The Red Deer and Her Babies.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 13

The Red Deer and Her Babies.

In on« of tho thickest covers of ft bcuutifui sluuly lineal m Germany a Red l)eor was atumhntf ono day looking placidly at tho deepening shadows, and wondering how hooa she could venture out iur Momo food. She had v double reason for being anxious ; tiho wus u> Mother Deor, and a shoj-t distance awuy, artfuhy concealed in the high ' heather, were two pretty little fawns, with epottcd bodies, delicately formed legs and feet, well-shaped hoadb, uud beautiful eyes, just like their mother, Biio had «o fear of their being seen, for before leaving them that morning she had made them iio down by giving each j of them a. gentlti pressure with her soft no#e, and had tofdi tiiem not to move un^il «ho caino buck. The little fawns I vero always very obedient, and did just whut she told them. They both lay ' quite still, huddled up in their own peculiar fashion, with their noses turned to their tails, much m the samo- fashion j that a. dog Iks, and the only sign of life *vua when they turned softly around to change their position, or took a quiet peep arouud With their large, dark eyes. At tho samo time that the Mother Deer was thinking ,about going back to them they also were wondering when (the would come, for they were beginning to feel very hungry, and wanted their supper. Presently there was a little rustle in the heather, and, forgttting caution, the two little fawns sprang up, tried to balance themselves on their rickpty littlo legs, and looked aroung eagerly. But instead of their mother's graceful, dignified form they saw, creeping stealthily and warily, through the heather, an aiiiinul with a soft-, steel-gray, furry coat, a round) hairy, wicked face, with •cruel eyes that never winked, .outstanding whiskers, and sharp-pointed cars with curious littlo tufts at the tops of them. This was a lynx, or wildcat, and one of the Red l)eer's deadliest enemies when fawn's are about. The little fawns, did not know what it was, but they knew, in some way or other, that it wa& something to bo afraid of, and the cruel face, with its tufted ears, and the terrible, sharp teeth, which it showed fit sight of the fawns, nude them shiver with fear. In vain they called for their mother in their soft, gentle mauner, while theit slim, delicate bodies sank down again on the giouud, the thin, weak logs refusing to hold them up any longer. Not a sound could bo heard but the soft rustling of the heather as the wildcat mado his way slowly but steadily toward th«m. But the Mother Deer knew all about H. -'She was always careful to take up her position to tho windward, 60 that she could catch the very faintest scent of it lynx, fox, or any othei enemy who might be lingering around in her neighbourhood. She had just decided that^ tho sun Was sinking, and that it was time for her littlo ones' supper, when borne to her on tho evening air came a strong whin! of a wildcat. yhy and timid, like all Red Deer, in this case the Mother Deer forgot everything but the fact that there was a wiidcut about, and that it wus probably' on tho look-out for her fawns. In j\n instant she became nervous, restless, and anxious, but there waa no sign of fear, for her mother-love- made her think of nothing but the safety and protection of her children. Could she only tell exactly where tlio enemy wus it would not be so dillicult, but a hidden foe always mado hor uneasy. She came out of the forest — for tho wildcat was a long way off yot — aud moved slowly across tho patch of heather where her littlo ones were hidden. Then Midden iy she stopped, her legs and feet hidden, nnd only her reddish • brown body showing 5 her graceful head wus turned, to one niii

in a listening attitude, her whitish-gray throat was beatiug painfully, and her liquid-brown eyes glancing in all directions, wide open, and wild with fear. Then the rank emoll of the lynx grew stronger, and in a small pathway caused by tho bent-down sprays of the heuther ahe saw, to her horror, a full-grown lynx making straight for the lnding-pHice of her children. There was no more hesitation. With a wild bound forward Rhe came upon, tlio lynx with such appalling sud-

denness and with fiuch a. shower of kicka '| from her sharp hoofs, that, eurprised and, '2 startled, he decided, after giving -veafc 4 to his rage and disappointment, to go | home and try again some other time. '! So, hissing, spitting, and scolding in hit J ugly pussion, he made off, looking back ,§ now and again to send another shower of f nissea ba<^ at the Mother Deer, and jci hoping with all his heart that she mighj; £ get killed, so that he could get tha ? fawns after all.— E. Yelviu in tha I Youths' Companion. <J,