1. A pretty little fawn had been brought in from the woods, when very
young, and nursed and petted by a lady in the village until it had become
as tame as possible. It was graceful, as those little creatures always
are, and so gentle and playful that it became a great favorite, following
the different members of the family about, being caressed by the
neighbors, and welcome everywhere.
2. One morning, after playing about as usual until weary, it lay down in
the sunshine, at the feet of one of its friends, upon the steps of a
store. There came along a countryman, who for several years had been a
hunter by pursuit, and who still kept several hounds, one of which was now
with him.
3. The dog, as it approached the spot where the fawn lay, suddenly
stopped. The little animal saw him, and started to its feet. It had lived
more than half its life among the dogs of the village, and had apparently
lost all fear of them; but it seemed now to know that an enemy was near.
In an instant, its whole nature seemed changed; all its past habits were
forgotten; every wild impulse was awake; its head erect, its nostrils
dilated, its eyes flashing.
4. In another instant, before the spectators had thought of the danger,
and before its friends could secure it, the fawn was bounding away through
the street, and the hound in full chase. The bystanders were eager to save
it; several persons immediately followed its track; the friends who had
long fed and fondled it, calling the name it had hitherto known, in vain.
5. The hunter endeavored to whistle back his dog, but with no success. In
half a minute the fawn had turned the first corner, dashed onward toward
the lake, and thrown itself into the water. But if for a moment the
startled creature believed itself safe in the cool bosom of the lake, it
was soon undeceived; for the hound followed in hot and eager chase, while
a dozen village dogs joined blindly in the pursuit.
6. A large crowd collected on the bank--men, women, and children--anxious
for the fate of the little animal so well known to them all. Some threw
themselves into boats, hoping to intercept the hound before he reached his
prey. The plashing of the oars, the eager voices of men and boys, and the
barking of the dogs, must have filled the heart of the poor fawn with
terror and anguish,--as though every creature on the spot where it had
once been caressed and fondled, had suddenly turned into a deadly foe.
7. It was soon seen that the little animal was directing its course across
a bay toward the nearest borders of the forest. Immediately the owner of
the hound crossed the bridge, and ran at full speed, hoping to stop his
dog as he landed. On swam the fawn, as it never swam before; its delicate
head scarcely seen above the water, but leaving a disturbed track, which
betrayed its course alike to its friends and foes.
8. As it approached the land, the interest became intense. The hunter was
already on the same side of the lake, calling loudly and angrily to his
dog; but the hound seemed to have quite forgotten his master's voice in
the pitiless pursuit. The fawn reached the shore. With a leap it had
crossed the narrow strip of beach, and in another instant it would reach
the cover of the woods.
9. The hound followed true to the scent, pointing to the same spot on the
shore; his master, anxious to meet him, had run at full speed, and was now
coming up at the same critical moment. Will the dog listen to his voice?
or can the hunter reach him in time to seize and control him? A shout from
the bank told that the fawn had passed out of sight into the forest. At
the same instant, the hound, as he touched the land, felt the hunter's
strong arm clutching his neck. The worst was believed to be over; the fawn
was leaping up the mountain side, and its enemy was restrained. The other
dogs, seeing their leader cowed, were easily managed.
10. A number of persons, men and boys, dispersed themselves through the
woods in search of the little creature, but without success; they all
returned to the village, reporting that the fawn had not been seen. Some
thought that after its fright had passed it would return of its own
accord. It wore a pretty collar with its owner's name engraved upon it, so
that it could be easily known from any other fawn that might be straying
about the woods.
11. Before many hours had passed, a hunter presented himself to the lady
whose pet the little creature had been, and showed a collar with her name
upon it. He said that he was out hunting in the morning, and saw a fawn in
the distance. The little pet, instead of bounding away, as he expected,
moved toward him; he took aim, fired, and shot it through the heart.
DEFINITIONS.--l. Fawn, a young deer. Ca-ressed', fondled, petted. 3.
Di-lat'ed, extended, spread out. 4. Spec-ta'tors, those who look on. 6.
In-ter-cept', to stop, to seize. 7. Be-trayed', showed. 8. In-tense',
extreme. 9. Scent, track followed by the sense of smell. Cowed, made
afraid.