The Chase

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 25

The Chase

A thrilling tale by Sunset (13), Miihimoa. It was autumn, and the bush was fresh and green from the recent rains. The mist hung low over the Tararua ranges, and all was still except for the faint quackiugs of wild ducks who were returning to a lagoon, fed by an outlet from the Ohau River. The cunning birds had certainly picked a safe spot for their night abode, for it was well bidden by trees and bushes and any unsuspecting hunter would pass without even thinking there was such a place. The sun had just set and bad left a dull glow on the clouds, when the wild duck were suddenly startled by the crackling of the undergrowth. They Hew up with a whirr of wings, but it was not their enemy, the duckshooter, at all- A stag had peered cautiously through the bushes and then, with a little bound, bad landed near the edge of the lagoon. Its sensitive nostrils sniffed the air and then the water, but it did not drink. Its soft brown eyes gazed across to where a few ducks, braver than the rest, were gliding silently in circles over the still water. The stag shook his heavily-antlered head, turned, and pushed his way back through the thicket, * Fleetfoot was a magnificent specimen of red deer, possessing a fine head of sixteen points. He was at present ripping into some shrubbery that he had all of a sudden taken a dislike to. He soon changed his mind, however, and began feeding, and as he had been chased miles and miles by dogs, he soon lay down beneath an overhanging tree to rest, An owl began to hoot above him and an opossum came scuttling down a kohekohe tree, to come peering at Fleetfoot with bright, inquisitive eyes. The clouds had cleared and the moonlight came filtering between the leaves. A bellbird’s silvery note had rung through the still bush before Fleetfoot sprang to his hoofs. He bad been startled by the bark of a fleeing hind, so, sensing something was wrong, bounded after her, but he soon lost her in the dense thicket. He turned and trotted up another track and came out upon a rise overlooking a valley. Although the morning was hazy and the sun had not yet risen. Fleetfoot could make out the forms of pursuing dogs, who, finding the scent of the deer, broke out into loud baying. stunted shrubs and ferns. He stopped, sniffed at the air and ground, and' again turned to resume his journey, but a minute later a bark resounded up the ridge, and a herd of hinds came rushing madly down the slope and disappeared into the bush. The dogs appeared soon after and Fleetfoot sprang in their path and bounded away in the opposite direction. The dogs saw him and gave chase.

Fleetfoot ran and ran for many miles, dodging and turning in all directions. but he could still hear the dogs in pursuit. He became tired, and seeing a good hiding place, ran into it. He stood panting, and around and above him he heard the twitterings of birds. Suddenly all his hopes were shattered, for there was a bark and three dogs came bounding toward him. Fleetfoot stamped, shook his head, and roared. There was now no escape, and the only tiling left to do was to fight. What a fight it was, too! Fleetfoot was backed against the rock wall, his forefeet planted firmly in (lie loose earth, and his antlers flashing to and fro in the pack of yelping, snarling dogs. Three others had joined their comrades, and it was all Fleetfoot could do to keep them off. One hung on to his flank, one on to each of his ears, and the other three were careering around and barking into his face. One of Fleetfoot’s ears was ripped and his flank was sore, and the everlasting barking of dogs in his ears made him frenzied and desperate. He charged madly at the three dogs in front and ran them to the earth with his antlers. Fleetfoot bucked and roared madly, and two other dogs were dislodged from his body and were trampled, but the other hung on like a leech. f/islie Bridgeway, hearing the barks and yelps, had followed the direction of the sound and, entering the valley, saw a desperate stag trying to dislodge a determined dog which still held on to his painful ear. Bridgeway saw his chance and fired at the stag’s head. There was a loud yelp, and the dog fell to the ground, shot. Fleetfoot escaped with a ripped ear. Bridgeway stood on the ridge, wondering where Fleetfoot had suddenly disappeared to. before he turned and cursed at the sight of his dogs lying upon rhe ground. There was the sound of something pushing through bushes and Bridgeway turned to see Fleetfoot gazing at him with big soft eyes. After observing him for a few minutes, the stag gave a liellow and disappeared Into the scrub again. Bridgeway shouldered his rifle and went, not after Flectfoot, but toward home.