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White Tail the Deer's Adventures - George Ethelbert Walsh · Captives of the Thieve-Star

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  Speaker 1: Story one of white tailed Deer's adventures. This is a
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: For more information or the volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 1: Recording by phone Whitetail the Deer's Adventures by George Ethelbert Walsh.
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  Speaker 1: Whitetail jumps stepping stone Brook. Whitetail grew rapidly in size
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  Speaker 1: and strength, his long, clean limbs showing taut muscles and
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  Speaker 1: great springing power. And his neck grew thick and short,
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  Speaker 1: which is well for a buck who must use it
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  Speaker 1: in savage thrusts, when a head is a butttering ram.
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  Speaker 1: His horns were short and bony, but they protruded in front,
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  Speaker 1: like gnobs against which it would be unpleasant to fall.
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  Speaker 1: But his antlers were his pride. They spread out fansh
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  Speaker 1: on his head, crowning it with a glory that made
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  Speaker 1: Mother Dear supremely happy. At times it seemed as if
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  Speaker 1: the antlers were too heavy for the head and neck,
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  Speaker 1: but Whitetail carried them easily, and when he shook them
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  Speaker 1: in sport or anger, any one could see they were
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  Speaker 1: just fitted to him. In time, he stood as high
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  Speaker 1: as Father Buck and a head taller than mother Deer.
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  Speaker 1: The day the tip of his antlers reached an inch
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  Speaker 1: above father Bucks. He felt a little thrill of pride.
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  Speaker 1: To be as big and tall as his father had
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  Speaker 1: always been his ambition. But while it pleased Father Buck
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  Speaker 1: that his son was growing so big, it made him
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  Speaker 1: a little sad. You will soon be ready to take
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  Speaker 1: my place, white Tail, he said. You're growing taller and
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  Speaker 1: stronger every day. That may be, Father Buck, he replied,
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  Speaker 1: but if will be many a season before I can
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  Speaker 1: run as fast and far as you, or show the
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  Speaker 1: same strength in a fight. Oh no, there's little chance
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  Speaker 1: of my equalling you for many many seasons. Father Buck
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  Speaker 1: merely smiled and nodded his head. I want you to
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  Speaker 1: run out with me to stepping Stone Brook, he said, simply,
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  Speaker 1: there is something I want to show you. Whitetail was
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  Speaker 1: always eager for a run with Father Buck. Nearly every
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  Speaker 1: day they went off together to hunt and explore. Father
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  Speaker 1: Buck had been teaching him all the ways and tricks
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  Speaker 1: of the woods so that his education would be complete.
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  Speaker 1: It was a cool, crisp day, and they ran through
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  Speaker 1: the woods side by side in long, gentle lopes until
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  Speaker 1: they came to stepping Stone Brook. This was a small
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  Speaker 1: stream confined between two ledges of rocks, with stones placed
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  Speaker 1: in it for stepping across when one didn't want to
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  Speaker 1: wet defeat. Frequently, the whole herd crossed it, using the stones,
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  Speaker 1: so that not a foot touched the water. When they
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  Speaker 1: reached the brook, Whitehail immediately took a long drink of
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  Speaker 1: the cooling water, for their run had made him hot
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  Speaker 1: and thirsty. Father Buck watched him in silence, a very
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  Speaker 1: sad expression in his beautiful eyes. There was admiration also,
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  Speaker 1: but a little sadness Whitetail. He said, suddenly, I have
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  Speaker 1: brought you here to tell you something. Steppingstone Brook has
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  Speaker 1: always been the test for our leaders. Here. It is
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  Speaker 1: that many a youngster has first earned his right to
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  Speaker 1: lead the herd, and alas many an older leader has
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  Speaker 1: broken his heart here. Whitehail looked up in surprise and
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  Speaker 1: glanced from the speaker to the trickling waters. He was
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  Speaker 1: nearly puzzled by the words he had heard. No buck
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  Speaker 1: can be leader of the herd unless he can jump
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  Speaker 1: across stepping Stone Brook, clearing it from bank to bank
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  Speaker 1: without faltering or stumbling. If he fails, he must wait
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  Speaker 1: until he can make the leap. Many many have tried
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  Speaker 1: and failed and others. Whitetail's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He
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  Speaker 1: liked to take risks and attempt difficult tasks. I see,
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  Speaker 1: he said, laughing joyfully. You brought me here to see
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  Speaker 1: if I could make the leap. Well I can do it.
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  Speaker 1: I'll show you. I won't disappoint you, father Buck. I
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  Speaker 1: know you won't. Whitetail was the reply. I shouldn't have
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  Speaker 1: brought you here so soon if I thought you would fail.
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  Speaker 1: But I had another purpose too. What is it, asked Whitetail.
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  Speaker 1: I will tell you later. Now I want to see
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  Speaker 1: you take the leap. Years ago, many many seasons ago,
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  Speaker 1: I came here and took it there on the rocks.
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  Speaker 1: He can see the marks of my leap. It was
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  Speaker 1: one of the longest ever made by any of our people.
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  Speaker 1: I was naturally proud of it. I shall never forget
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  Speaker 1: that day. I think it was the happiest of my
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  Speaker 1: life except one which other one asked Whitetail, the day
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  Speaker 1: I defeated black Buck in the final struggle for leadership,
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  Speaker 1: was the reply. It was a battle that lasted for hours,
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  Speaker 1: and all the herd watched us. We were down and
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  Speaker 1: up again and again, struggling, fighting and bucking until it
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  Speaker 1: seemed as if both of us would die from exhaustion.
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  Speaker 1: But I finally won. I got him down on his
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  Speaker 1: knees and then rolled him over and stood there until
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  Speaker 1: he acknowledged my leadership. That, of course, was the happiest
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  Speaker 1: day of my life. Whitetail thrilled this story, and for
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  Speaker 1: a moment forgot the thing he was going to do,
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  Speaker 1: until his father spoke again. Now, let me see you
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  Speaker 1: take the brook in the jump. Whitehail trotted back on
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  Speaker 1: the embankment, but he discovered there was little room for
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  Speaker 1: a start. It was almost a standing leap. That was
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  Speaker 1: why it was so hard across. On the other side,
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  Speaker 1: the embankment shelved down gradually to the shore, with grass
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  Speaker 1: and moss covering the bold face of the rock. Take
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  Speaker 1: your time, father Buck cautioned, measure the distance well, and
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  Speaker 1: do not spring unless you are sure of yourself. Many
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  Speaker 1: a buck that failed the first time never got his
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  Speaker 1: courage up to repeat it. It is the first leap
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  Speaker 1: that counts. Reflecting long and earnestly on his father's words,
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  Speaker 1: Whitehail measured the distance with his eyes, and then drew
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  Speaker 1: back as far as he could. He gathered his powerful
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  Speaker 1: hind legs together, squatted down on them, piled the rock
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  Speaker 1: with his front ones, and stood a moment in trembling anticipation.
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  Speaker 1: His nostrils dilated, his eyes flashed. Then, with a sudden
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  Speaker 1: forward spring, he darted toward the edge of the rock,
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  Speaker 1: and when he reached it, his hind hoofs dug on
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  Speaker 1: the rock for a secure perchase. There was a momentary hesitation,
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  Speaker 1: as if he had decided not to make the attempt.
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  Speaker 1: Then his body shot upward and outward across the brook
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  Speaker 1: in the prettiest jump that any deer had ever taken.
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  Speaker 1: He cleared the brook with its stepping stones, passed the
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  Speaker 1: opposite edge, and landed all four hoofs firmly planted on
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  Speaker 1: the upper part of the slope. He had made the
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  Speaker 1: jump successfully. Father Buck crossed the stream on the stones
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  Speaker 1: and glanced down at his old mark. A spirit of
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  Speaker 1: exultation seized him. You have passed my old mark, Whitetail
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  Speaker 1: beaten it by a foot, he said, you will some
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  Speaker 1: day be leader. I know, Whitetail was as much interested
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  Speaker 1: as his father in his triumph. He examined the mark
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  Speaker 1: and then wanted to repeat to jump to see if
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  Speaker 1: he could better it. No, cautioned father Buck. Once is sufficient,
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  Speaker 1: a second time may not be so good. You have
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  Speaker 1: established your mark. We will scratch it here with our
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  Speaker 1: hoofs as a challenge to all others. Let young black
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  Speaker 1: Buck beat it if he can. Until he does, that
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  Speaker 1: is your mark. Whitetail accepted his order and made no
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  Speaker 1: further attempt to jump the brook. If young black Buck
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  Speaker 1: beats it some day, then he would have a chance
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  Speaker 1: to try it again, and, if possible, score a lot
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  Speaker 1: longer jump. What was your other purpose in bringing me
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  Speaker 1: here to day, he asked, remembering his father's words. Ah,
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  Speaker 1: that is the sad part of it, sighed father Buck.
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  Speaker 1: But you must know I will show you just what
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  Speaker 1: he meant. Will appear in the next story. End of
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  Speaker 1: story one, Story two of White Tailed Deer's Adventures by
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  Speaker 1: George Ethelbert Walsh. This Liberfox according is in the public
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  Speaker 1: domain recording by phone father Buck's failure. Father Buck walked
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  Speaker 1: across the brook again and took his place on the
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  Speaker 1: rock from which the jump was made. Whitetail immediately concluded
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  Speaker 1: he was going to show him how much farther he
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  Speaker 1: could jump when he was a young buck. I know
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  Speaker 1: you will beat me, Whitehail said, But if you do,
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  Speaker 1: won't you give me another chance? Yes, if such a
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  Speaker 1: miracle should happen, was to reply Whitehail stood eagerly watching
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  Speaker 1: while his father crouched as he had for the spring.
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  Speaker 1: How noble he looked, with his big antlered head with
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  Speaker 1: streaks of gray and white hair curling around the roots.
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  Speaker 1: White Tail was proud of him. Suddenly, Father Buck rushed forward,
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  Speaker 1: hesitated at the brink to get a good purchase with
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  Speaker 1: his hosts, and then up in the air and straight
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  Speaker 1: across his body shot. Whitehail watched him with gleaming eyes.
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  Speaker 1: Then something happened which startled him. The spring had not
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  Speaker 1: been as powerful as he thought, for instead of beating
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  Speaker 1: Whitehail's mark or reaching his own, Father Buck missed a
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  Speaker 1: shore by a foot, his hind legs actually splashed in
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  Speaker 1: the water. What happened, exclaimed Whitehail in amazement. Did you
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  Speaker 1: slip or or no? Replied father Buck, sadly, it was
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  Speaker 1: as I expected. I am getting old Whitetail and I
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  Speaker 1: have lost my spring. I have reached the age where
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  Speaker 1: I am no longer qualified to lead the herd. If
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  Speaker 1: any of the other bucks knew this, they would instantly
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  Speaker 1: demand a new leader. It's the law of the herd. But,
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  Speaker 1: but stammered whitetail, you could do it again. He didn't
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  Speaker 1: get a good start. No, it wasn't that white tail.
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  Speaker 1: It was my age. I can no longer spring across
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  Speaker 1: steppingstone brook. I am not fit to be the leader
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  Speaker 1: of the herd. Father Buck's proud head drooped, and something
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  Speaker 1: like a tear gleamed in his eyes. It was hard
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  Speaker 1: to acknowledge that he was failing, and that in a
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  Speaker 1: few seasons he would be looked upon as a useless
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  Speaker 1: old buck who would have to take orders from another
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  Speaker 1: much younger than he. But it was the law of
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  Speaker 1: the herd and the law of life. I can't believe it,
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  Speaker 1: exclaimed whitetail. I won't believe it. I know you can
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  Speaker 1: leap across the brook. You must try it again. What
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  Speaker 1: I can do, you can do. Father Buck raised his
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  Speaker 1: head and smiled. All the sadness left his eyes, and
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  Speaker 1: pride and gratefulness took its place. No white tail, he replied,
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  Speaker 1: I cannot do it. I put in that jump all
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  Speaker 1: the strength I had and I failed. But don't think
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  Speaker 1: I'm sad. I'm not. I knew it had to come
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  Speaker 1: some day. But I'm glad that my son can take
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  Speaker 1: my place. I can be happy yet, and mother dear
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  Speaker 1: will share it with me, because you have qualified so
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  Speaker 1: well to be our leader. I am thankful for that.
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  Speaker 1: But Whitehail was not convinced. It was hard for him
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  Speaker 1: to accept the truth. Father Buck was still to him
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  Speaker 1: the finest, proudest, wisest and strongest leader. He knew, and
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  Speaker 1: he wanted him to continue. So some other day, when
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  Speaker 1: you feel better, you will come out here and try
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  Speaker 1: to jump again, he said, I know you don't feel well.
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  Speaker 1: To day. Tomorrow you will feel better. Father Buck shook
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  Speaker 1: his head slowly. I see you are hard to convince, Whitehail,
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  Speaker 1: But I will show you in another way. How far
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  Speaker 1: is it from here to Puma's hunting ground? Ten miles
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  Speaker 1: or more? Then we will go to it. We will
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  Speaker 1: race to it at a good speed. I want you
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  Speaker 1: to set the pace the swiftest you can. You must
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  Speaker 1: run as if Puma or timber Wolf was on your trail.
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  Speaker 1: I will follow. You must neither look to the right
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  Speaker 1: or to the left or back of you. Run with
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  Speaker 1: all your might. You will follow clothes behind me. I
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  Speaker 1: will follow you. Now. Whitehail looked with glee upon his run,
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  Speaker 1: for he was in a fine condition, his limbs seemed
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  Speaker 1: aching for a long, hard run, and his father wanted
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  Speaker 1: to see how quickly he could make the race he
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  Speaker 1: would show him he wouldn't disappoint him. Shortly afterward, he
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  Speaker 1: started off, taking a broad trail through the woods. He
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  Speaker 1: trotted along merrily, and soon began running in long leaps
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  Speaker 1: and bounds that carried him far and fast. When he
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  Speaker 1: came to obstructions in his path, he leaped over them
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  Speaker 1: as easily as a boy or girl would jump over
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  Speaker 1: a log. Faster and faster he flew through the woods,
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  Speaker 1: his fine head set well back and his antlers almost
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  Speaker 1: resting on his neck. His eyes were kept glued to
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  Speaker 1: the trail ahead. He ran so easily and smoothly that
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  Speaker 1: it seemed as if he was making no effort. For
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  Speaker 1: the first five miles he showed hardly any results of
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  Speaker 1: his wild run. But in the last half of the
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  Speaker 1: distance he began to perspire a little, and the white
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  Speaker 1: Foam settled on his flanks, but he never stopped or
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  Speaker 1: turned until he reached the boundary line of Puma's hunting ground.
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  Speaker 1: Then he halted and whirled around. How was that, he asked?
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  Speaker 1: But Father Buck was not there. He was alone. His
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  Speaker 1: father was nowhere in sight. Start and surprised by this,
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  Speaker 1: He trotted back a few paces and called to him, Then,
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  Speaker 1: not finding him, he became frightened. Had something happened to
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  Speaker 1: his father? Perhaps Puma had sprung out of the bushes
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  Speaker 1: and killed him, or timber Wolf had driven him off
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  Speaker 1: the trail and was even now chasing him. Whitehail was
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  Speaker 1: so alarmed that he retraced his footsteps, calling every little
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  Speaker 1: while for Father Buck. It was a dangerous thing to do,
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  Speaker 1: for in calling he might attract Puma or timber Wolf,
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  Speaker 1: but his anxiety for his father made him forget all caution.
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  Speaker 1: He found him a long way back on the trail,
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  Speaker 1: lying in the bushes, panting with exhaustion. As soon as
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  Speaker 1: he discovered him, Whitehail ran up to him with a
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  Speaker 1: little bleat of joy. Oh I thought something terrible had
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  Speaker 1: happened to you, he exclaimed, What is it? Did you stumble?
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  Speaker 1: You haven't broken a leg? Have you no, Whitetail, was
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  Speaker 1: the panting reply, Nothing has happened to me. I couldn't
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  Speaker 1: keep up with you. I shried my best, I hung
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  Speaker 1: on until I fell down with exhaustion. I have run
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  Speaker 1: my last race. I did it to show you that
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  Speaker 1: I am growing older and that my powers are weakening.
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  Speaker 1: You would not be convinced when I failed to leap
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  Speaker 1: the brook. Now you will have to believe. Then it
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  Speaker 1: dawned upon Whitetail that the race to Puma's hunting ground
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  Speaker 1: was simply to show him that his father could no
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  Speaker 1: longer keep up with the young bucks of the herd.
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  Speaker 1: It was hard for father Buck thus to show his
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  Speaker 1: failing powers, but it was better to do it with
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  Speaker 1: his son as the only witness than to fail before
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  Speaker 1: all the herd. It is my downfall, white Tail, he added,
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  Speaker 1: But I wanted only you as witness. Now you know
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  Speaker 1: my leadership will soon end. But when the day comes,
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  Speaker 1: you must be able to take my place. That will
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  Speaker 1: be my satisfaction and your mother's. She knew that the
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  Speaker 1: time was approaching, and she will not be heavy heartened.
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  Speaker 1: Whitehail was terribly distressed by this news, but after a
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  Speaker 1: while a fierce joy came to him. I shall prove
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  Speaker 1: myself worthy of you, Father Buck, He said, yes, I
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  Speaker 1: will take your place. I will fight for it now
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  Speaker 1: that you and mother dear want it. Yes, I will
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: fight for the leadership until the last breath. Those are
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  Speaker 1: the words I have longed to hear, Whitehail. Now I
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  Speaker 1: am contented. We will return to the herd. My day's
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  Speaker 1: work is done. As they trotted slowly back to the herd,
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: they planned for the future. Both knew that the future
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  Speaker 1: race would be between Whitetail and Young black Book. But
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  Speaker 1: of this you will read in the next story end
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: of story two, Story three of White Tail The Deer's
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: Adventures by George Ethelbert Walsh. This LibriVox recording is in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. Young black Book's challenge. Young black Book
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: had of course been in training all this time, for
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  Speaker 1: it is the law of the deer that none shall
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  Speaker 1: aspire for the leadership of a herd until he has
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  Speaker 1: learned all the ways of the woods and can outpace
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  Speaker 1: and outjump his father and mother. All the laws of
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: the deer are very strict, for the safety of all
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  Speaker 1: depends upon the leader. Black Book had taken his son
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: through the woods as Father Buck had taken Whitechail, showing
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: him the dangers and pitfalls and instructing him how to
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: avoid them and what to do when danger threatened. He
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: had taken him secretly to stepping Stone Brook and made
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: him jump it, and he had tested his speed and
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: endurance in a race with himself. Father Buck had no
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: illusions about what a black buck was doing, and he
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: tried to prepare Whitechail to meet young black Buck on
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  Speaker 1: equal terms. It was like bringing up two boys for
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: a contest in speed, strength, endurance, wisdom and courage. It
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: was his spartan education, but it was necessary for the
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: good of the herd. Then one day the clash came.
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: For a preliminary trial of skill. The herd had wandered
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: down from the timberland to the open woods below, where
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  Speaker 1: the new buds of the birches offered succulent food. There
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: was no sign of danger in the air, and the
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: herd grazed peacefully on soft young twigs and opening buds.
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  Speaker 1: When they had wandered to the brink of the canyon
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  Speaker 1: that cut through the north woods below stepping Stone Brook,
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  Speaker 1: the leaders paused and started to turn the young doe
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: and falls back. It was dangerous to permit them to
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: eat too close to the edge of the precipice. If
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: one should fall over, the rocks below would crack every
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: bone in its body. Black Buck suddenly raised his head
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  Speaker 1: and then whispered to his son. Think you can jump
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: the canyon safely. If so, it is a good time
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: to challenge white Tail. We may find out then what
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  Speaker 1: he can do. If he box at it, we will
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  Speaker 1: know he is timid or undertrained. Young black Buck walked
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: to the edge and gazed down it and then across it.
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  Speaker 1: It was a dangerous leap, for if if he missed
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  Speaker 1: by an inch, he would fall to the bottom thirty
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  Speaker 1: feet below, where the hard rocks would crush him. He
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: sniffed the air and then returned to his father's side.
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  Speaker 1: I can do it, he replied. I've made longer jumps, yes,
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  Speaker 1: but if you should fail, you would be killed. Make
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: sure of yourself before you sound the challenge. Go below,
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: where the canyon is not so steep, but just as wide.
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  Speaker 1: Practice there alone until you have confidence. If you fail,
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: no harm will be done. You can wait another day.
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck separated himself from the herd and made
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: his way to a point half a mile down the
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: canyon on either side. Here the rocks were covered with
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: moss and turf, and the edges dropped only a few feet.
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: If he failed, the fall would not hurt him. Unseen
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: by the others. He made the attempt and cleared the
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: space successfully in the first leap. Then, to make sure,
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: he tried it again and again, flighting easily on the
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: opposite embankment each time. Gloating with pride and triumph, he
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: trotted back to black Buck and reportant, I never failed once.
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: If the distance here is no greater across, I can
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: do it easily. It is no greater. But if anything
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: a few inches less, replied black Buck. If you can
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: do it below, you will do it here. Issue the challenge.
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck trotted away, and raising his head in
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: the air, A peculiar bellowing noise issued from his throat.
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: It was the book's challenge to a contest. Every deer
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: knew its meaning and raised the head to see who
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: was calling whitechail feeding some distance off with mother, dear
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: and father. Buck heard it and instantly turned his head
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: in Young black Buck's direction. It's young black Buck's challenge,
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: whispered father Buck. You must accept it. It may be
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: a challenge to erase or fight whatever it is, you
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: must accept it. I'm ready, replied Whitetail, starting off. Who
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: will leap the canyon with me? Bellowed young black Buck.
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: I shall lead where none dare follow. None shall then
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: dispute my claim to leadership. Come those who dare. Before
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: white Tail reached the spot, the whole herd was crowding
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: around the challenger. They saw a prospect of a free entertainment,
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: and they bucked and butted each other to get in front.
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: None of the other young bucks had accepted the challenge.
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: One glance at the yawning depth of the canyon had
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: made them withdrawl, with sickening fear. Looked much deeper than
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: it was and twice as wide. Whitetail pushed his way
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: through the crowds until he stood before young black Buck.
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: The sight of him brought a quick remark from the
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: challenger's mouth. You, whitetail, he exclaimed, you wish to accept
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: the challenge. Beware how you speak without thinking. Go and
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: look down the chasm. It means death if you fail.
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: Think twice before you speak. Now. When father Buck heard
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: the nature of the challenge. He felt a great fear.
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: He had never shown the canyon to Whitetail, and he
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: didn't know whether he could leap across it or not.
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: He reproached himself for omitting this part of his training.
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: Mother Dear's heart gave a great throb. If Whitetail failed,
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: she knew he would be crushed to death on the
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: rocks below. She could not endure such a sight. Better
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: that her son should lose the leadership than be killed. No, no, Whitehail,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: she cried, you must not accept the challenge. You must not.
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: I can't lose you. Black Buck, who had been standing
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: back of the crowd, heard and was greatly pleased, for
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: he knew now that Father Buck hadn't taught Whitehail to
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: jump the canyon. Few had ever taken the leap without
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: practicing first at the place below, where there was no danger.
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: It was the fear of not being able to clear
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: the distance that caused the real danger. You must not see, that,
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: interrupted father Buck, frowning at Mother Dear. The honor of
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: our family is at stake. Whitehail must accept the challenge.
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: Before Mother Dear could answer this, Whitetail had settled the dispute.
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: Whatever you can do, young black buck, he said, I
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: will do more than that. I will lead. You will
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: take the leap first, queried young black Buck. Then, as
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: the challenger, I have the right of choice. You can
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: go first, Whitetail, But where I go you must follow,
• 27:17
  Speaker 1: retorted white Tail. If not, you shall be forever disgraced.
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: If you are afraid, I'll lead, sneered young black Buck. No,
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: I'll go first, Whitetail. Didn't even go to the edge
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: of the precipice to look down or to measure the
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: distance across. What was the use. He would make the
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: greatest jump of his life. If he failed, he would
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: die Knowing he had done his best. What more could
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: he do? He ran back a short distance, and then,
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: facing the canyon, he made a swift dash for it.
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: At the brink, he threw all his strength in a
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: mighty leap, and his body shot up and outward, forming
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: a beautiful curve. He kept his eyes ahead and never
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: once looked down. It was a splendid jump. It carried
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: him clear across the canyon and landed him safely a
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: yard beyond the opposite edge. He knew by the shouts
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: that he had succeeded even before his feet touched ground. Then,
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: with a proud toss of his hand, he turned and
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: looked at Young black Buck. It was his turn. Now
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: could he do it? End of story three, Story four
• 28:42
  Speaker 1: of Whitetail The Deer's Adventures by George F. Albert Walsh.
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: This Liverpook's according is in the public domain. Father Buck's decision,
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck was greatly chagrined at Whitetail's great jump,
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: for he knew that he had crossed the canyon without
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: any previous training. It showed that Whitetail had courage as
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: well as strength and skill. It was a triumph for
• 29:10
  Speaker 1: him that none appreciated more than Young black Buck and
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: his father. Now young black Buck, Whitetail called from the
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: opposite side, follow me or forever cease challenging. There was
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: nothing for Young black Buck to do but take the jump.
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: All eyes were turned on him. For the first time,
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: a feeling of fear possessed him. He had looked down
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: the chasm and knew what waited him if he fell short.
• 29:40
  Speaker 1: Suppose he should make a false step or stumble at
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: the last moment, the fall would be terrible. If not
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: actually killed, he would break his legs at the very least.
• 29:53
  Speaker 1: Black Buck saw the expression of fear in his son's
• 29:56
  Speaker 1: eyes and whispered to him, don't look below, keep your
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: eyes up and ahead. Young black Buck gathered himself for
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: the short run and long jump. He knew that he
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: had to take it and that he had to succeed.
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: He ran with all his might and then sprang forward
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: in a quick spring. If it hadn't been for his nervousness,
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: he certainly would have cleared the chasm without accident. But chagrin, anger,
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: and fear had possession of him, and they were responsible
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: for a misstep. At the last moment, when his body
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: was launched through the air, he knew he hadn't put
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: in the jump all the power he had. Then, too,
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: the fear of a failure alarmed him. He glanced down
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: and saw the terrible chasm yawning below to receive him.
• 30:49
  Speaker 1: This gave his body a side lurch, and instead of
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: clearing the chasm in a beautiful jump, his fore feet
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: touched the opposite side only a foot from the edge,
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: and his hind hoofs missed it by an inch. No
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: one could see the accident, so quickly or plainly as Whitetail,
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: who stood within a few feet of him. He saw
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: that young black Buck was going to miss before his
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: front hoofs touched the embankment. Now, the thought of his
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: missing the rock and falling to the bottom of the
• 31:21
  Speaker 1: chasm in a broken heap horrified white Tail so that
• 31:25
  Speaker 1: he forgot all his triumph and desire to win. His
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: greatest desire was to save young black buck from an
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: awful death. Before he reached the embankment, Whitetail jumped to
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: the edge, and quick as a wink, stretched forth. His
• 31:41
  Speaker 1: head caught young black Buck by a prong of his antlers.
• 31:45
  Speaker 1: He got a good hold with his teeth, and then
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: as the leaping buck's hind feet slipped down and his
• 31:52
  Speaker 1: body began to sway backward, Whitetail braced his feet and
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: jerked backward with all his strength was enough to overcome
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: the balance of the frightened jumper. Instead of falling backward
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: into the chasm, he stumbled forward, and then, catching his
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: hind hoofs on the edge, he managed to climb up
• 32:12
  Speaker 1: the embankment. It was all done so quickly and skillfully
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: that the watchers on the opposite bank hardly knew what
• 32:20
  Speaker 1: had happened. They knew in some way that young black
• 32:23
  Speaker 1: Buck had stumbled and nearly fallen in the chasm. They
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: had also seen Whitetail reach forward and grab or push him.
• 32:33
  Speaker 1: They couldn't very well say just what he did. But
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: black Buck, seeing that his son had failed and angry
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: at the thought of Whitetail's triumph, was quick to see
• 32:44
  Speaker 1: away to change the feet into triumph. Before his son
• 32:48
  Speaker 1: could recover his breath and stop his trembling, black Buck
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: roared out with all his might. Foul, that was a foul.
• 32:57
  Speaker 1: Whitetail got in the way and try to throw my
• 33:00
  Speaker 1: son off the precipice. No, no, saeveroul shouted, Not that
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: white Tail wouldn't do that. Ask my son if what
• 33:11
  Speaker 1: I say isn't true, he should know, rumbled black Buck.
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck was almost as quick as his father
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: to see the chance of redeeming himself in the eyes
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: of the whole herd, and he shook his hand with delight.
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: His fear and trembling all left him. Speak, Young black
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: Buck shouted his father, did white Hill interfere with you?
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: Speak before it is too late? Young black Buck was
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: ready with his answer. Yes, he stood in my way,
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: he replied, and when I reached the edge, he bit
• 33:48
  Speaker 1: at me and try to push me off the edge.
• 33:52
  Speaker 1: Whitehail started in surprise and horror at this accusation, for
• 33:56
  Speaker 1: he was too stunned to speak. Then, when he realized
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: what the charge meant, he said, you know, I didn't
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: do that, young black Buck. If I hadn't grabbed your antlers,
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: he would have fallen over and been crushed to death.
• 34:11
  Speaker 1: Oh how could you say such a thing. That's a
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: fine story to tell, jeered young black Buck. Who do
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: you think will believe it? You wanted to kill me
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: so you could have no challenger for the leadership. Well
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: I'm alive and I'll beat you to it. Yet now,
• 34:30
  Speaker 1: the uproar on the other side was intense. Some believed
• 34:34
  Speaker 1: that Whitetail had actually tried to push his rival down
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: the chasm, and others were equally certain that the son
• 34:41
  Speaker 1: of Father Buck could never be guilty of such a crime.
• 34:45
  Speaker 1: The commotion was approaching the proportions of her riot when
• 34:48
  Speaker 1: Father Buck brought silence with a roar of authority. Be quiet,
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: he bellowed, we must settle this dispute right If my
• 34:59
  Speaker 1: son was guilty of such a crime, I would be
• 35:02
  Speaker 1: the first to disown him and drive him from the
• 35:04
  Speaker 1: herd in disgrace. But if he is innocent, I will
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: back him up with all my might. He turned fiercely
• 35:12
  Speaker 1: on black Buck as he said this, his eyes flashing
• 35:16
  Speaker 1: and his antler's bobbing threateningly. Black Buck was not anxious
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: to get in a fight with the leader, and he
• 35:23
  Speaker 1: backed away, grumbling. I will protect my son, too, he
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: breathed angrily. If he is right, that is your duty,
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: roared father Buck. And it is your duty to denounce
• 35:38
  Speaker 1: him if he is in the wrong. Will you do that? Also?
• 35:42
  Speaker 1: Black Buck made some inaudible reply and backed still further
• 35:46
  Speaker 1: away from the flashing eyes. Who saw white Tail push
• 35:51
  Speaker 1: young black Buck off the edge, asked father Buck, addressing
• 35:55
  Speaker 1: the crowd. A dozen or more voices answered in the affirmative,
• 36:00
  Speaker 1: without changing the expression of his face. Father Buck then added,
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: who saw whitehail grab young black Buck and tried to
• 36:09
  Speaker 1: save him from a fall? An equal number of voices
• 36:13
  Speaker 1: responded promptly to make sure. Father Buck counted them, and
• 36:18
  Speaker 1: then counted those who had answered in favor of young
• 36:20
  Speaker 1: black Buck. They were the same twenty years and twenty
• 36:25
  Speaker 1: knows that makes it hard for me to decide, murmured
• 36:29
  Speaker 1: father Buck. A tie is never a pleasant vote for
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: a leader, for he must decide then one way or
• 36:36
  Speaker 1: the other himself. In this case, it's doubly hard for me.
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: He stopped and looked at the herd, and then added,
• 36:45
  Speaker 1: you know me, and you know I would be the
• 36:48
  Speaker 1: last to decide in favor of my son if I
• 36:50
  Speaker 1: thought he was wrong. Therefore, in giving my decision, I
• 36:55
  Speaker 1: know you will think I'm doing justice. Then I say
• 36:58
  Speaker 1: to you that I saw why will help young black
• 37:01
  Speaker 1: Buck at the slope. Had it not been for his help,
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: one of her number would be down below there dead.
• 37:09
  Speaker 1: There was a silence, and a shudder passed through the
• 37:12
  Speaker 1: whole herd. Father Buck's decision did not affect him so
• 37:16
  Speaker 1: much as the thought of what might have happened. They
• 37:19
  Speaker 1: were glad that it had ended this way, with no
• 37:22
  Speaker 1: bones broken. Whitetail was exonerated in their eyes. End of
• 37:29
  Speaker 1: story four, Story five of Whitetail The Deer's Adventures by
• 37:39
  Speaker 1: George Ethelbert Walsh. This librifox recording is in the public domain.
• 37:44
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck's challenge to a race. Whitetail was so
• 37:50
  Speaker 1: angry at Young black Buck for accusing him falsely that
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: for a moment after father Buck's decision, he couldn't find
• 37:57
  Speaker 1: his tongue to speak. He simply glared at Young black Buck,
• 38:02
  Speaker 1: and for the first time, there came into his mind
• 38:04
  Speaker 1: a desire to punish his accuser. He knew then that
• 38:08
  Speaker 1: he would have to fight his antagonist some day, and
• 38:11
  Speaker 1: the battle would be a long and hard one, with
• 38:14
  Speaker 1: neither side giving any terms. When the excitement had quieted
• 38:18
  Speaker 1: a little, he turned to young black Buck and said,
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: you know that you spoke falsely, and knowing it, your
• 38:26
  Speaker 1: conscience should trouble you. Young black Buck grinned, but nobody
• 38:31
  Speaker 1: else knows it. He replied, Therefore my conscience don't trouble
• 38:36
  Speaker 1: me much. Some day, added Whitetail, you will pay for this.
• 38:42
  Speaker 1: We want no deceiver as the leader of the herd.
• 38:45
  Speaker 1: I'll battle you for the position, oh, sneered the other.
• 38:51
  Speaker 1: That's a pretty speech, Whitetail. But we can't battle for
• 38:54
  Speaker 1: the leadership until father Buck has failed in the chase
• 38:57
  Speaker 1: or hunt. He's leader until then. But the day will
• 39:02
  Speaker 1: come when it will be between you and me, and
• 39:06
  Speaker 1: then replied young black Buck airily. I'll see that you
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: get the worst looking you ever had. No, I think
• 39:14
  Speaker 1: it will be the other way. Why Tail crossed the
• 39:18
  Speaker 1: chasm again and joined the herd. There were plenty to
• 39:21
  Speaker 1: sympathize with him, and they expressed themselves frankly. But there
• 39:25
  Speaker 1: were not lacking others who admired young black Buck and
• 39:29
  Speaker 1: felt that he had been unjustly accused. Mother Dear whispered
• 39:34
  Speaker 1: in her son's ears. Never mind, white Tail, We have
• 39:38
  Speaker 1: to learn to take such things in life unselfishly. Right
• 39:42
  Speaker 1: always triumphs in the end. Don't let it worry you.
• 39:47
  Speaker 1: It doesn't worry me, mother dear, but it makes me
• 39:50
  Speaker 1: feel angry. Further conversation was stomped by Father Buck announcing
• 39:55
  Speaker 1: that the herd would go to the lower Timberland to
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: graze on the succulent ground a bordered Puma's hunting ground.
• 40:03
  Speaker 1: The grass was in the rich, tender stage, and the
• 40:06
  Speaker 1: deer enjoyed it as a sort of luxury. The fact
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: that Puma had selected this spot as his special hunting
• 40:12
  Speaker 1: ground could not keep the deer away, and Father Buck's
• 40:16
  Speaker 1: announcement was hailed with delight. We must keep together, he
• 40:21
  Speaker 1: cautioned with the doze and fawns inside and the bucks outside,
• 40:27
  Speaker 1: for Puma may be abroad, although he is not to
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: be feared so much in the daytime. If he's asleep
• 40:33
  Speaker 1: in his lair, we won't disturb him. The spice of
• 40:37
  Speaker 1: danger added to the zest of the adventurer. The grass
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: always had a much sweeter taste and a richer flavor
• 40:44
  Speaker 1: when it was gathered right under the nose of Puma.
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: The young bucks kicked up their heels and ran ahead.
• 40:51
  Speaker 1: While they were not anxious to draw Puma from his lair,
• 40:55
  Speaker 1: they wanted to show to the fawns and doves that
• 40:58
  Speaker 1: they were unafraid. If Puma comes from me, I'll show
• 41:02
  Speaker 1: him a clean pair of heels. Boasted one and I
• 41:07
  Speaker 1: said another will give him a race that he'll never forget.
• 41:12
  Speaker 1: Little did they know of what they were boasting. Pumad
• 41:15
  Speaker 1: the mountain lion, never laid any great claim this swift
• 41:18
  Speaker 1: long distance running. He knew he was no match for
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: the fleet deer in this respect, but he had ways
• 41:26
  Speaker 1: and tricks of his own. His favorite mesthod was to
• 41:29
  Speaker 1: hide among the thick foliage of the trees, and when
• 41:32
  Speaker 1: a buck or doe passed underneath the spring upon its back.
• 41:37
  Speaker 1: Once caught in this way, no deer had a chance
• 41:40
  Speaker 1: to escape. All the speed in the world would not
• 41:43
  Speaker 1: avail the poor creature. Then, Puma was a terrible hunter.
• 41:48
  Speaker 1: At night, he roamed about dark woods and scented out
• 41:51
  Speaker 1: his sleeping prey, And with one blow from his great pall,
• 41:56
  Speaker 1: he could break the back of a buck or crush
• 41:58
  Speaker 1: the skull of a smaller animal. He could climb a
• 42:02
  Speaker 1: tree like a cat, and crouch flat in the bushes
• 42:05
  Speaker 1: out of sight, to spring up as swiftly as a
• 42:08
  Speaker 1: deer leaping a chasm. All the older deer knew the
• 42:12
  Speaker 1: ways of Puma, some from terrifying experiences, and others only
• 42:17
  Speaker 1: from hearsay. Ever, since father Buck had been leader of
• 42:21
  Speaker 1: the herd, they had avoided Puma, and not one had
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: fallen a prey to his voracious appetite. Perhaps they didn't
• 42:29
  Speaker 1: fully appreciate this, for continued safety from danger often makes
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: us think there is no real danger after roll. So
• 42:38
  Speaker 1: when he proposed leading the herd down to the succulent
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: grass bordering the woods where Puma hunted, he took great
• 42:45
  Speaker 1: precaution to avoid any risk. Several of the older bucks
• 42:50
  Speaker 1: were sent ahead scouting, and they returned at intervals to report.
• 42:55
  Speaker 1: Father Buck led them down to the broad, shallow stream
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: that he and one light tail had crossed that day
• 43:01
  Speaker 1: on their return from Puma's hunting ground, but instead of
• 43:06
  Speaker 1: wading down the river a short distance, the leader kept
• 43:09
  Speaker 1: them waiting until they had skirted the hunting ground of
• 43:12
  Speaker 1: timber Wolf. He had almost as much fear of timber
• 43:16
  Speaker 1: as of Puma. They kept to the left bank of
• 43:19
  Speaker 1: the stream and then crossed a shallow ford, where the
• 43:23
  Speaker 1: grass and reeds grew in such dense masses. They began
• 43:27
  Speaker 1: feeding at once, but not until bucks had been sent
• 43:30
  Speaker 1: inland to scout for Puma. They returned to report that
• 43:35
  Speaker 1: Puma was not abroad. They had crossed and recrossed his
• 43:39
  Speaker 1: old trails, but there was no fresh scent in the air.
• 43:44
  Speaker 1: He's probably sleeping. After a good night of hunting, black
• 43:48
  Speaker 1: Buck remarked, I don't think there's any danger, but the
• 43:53
  Speaker 1: leader was taking no chances. He posted scouts in the
• 43:57
  Speaker 1: woods and on high rocks where they could watch, listen,
• 44:00
  Speaker 1: and smell. Then the rest of the herd enjoyed their
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: feast of rich grass and reeds. They munched greedily at them,
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: their eyes filled with happiness, and making as little noise
• 44:12
  Speaker 1: as possible. Now, young black Buck should have been satisfied
• 44:17
  Speaker 1: to eat and enjoy himself with the rest, but after
• 44:20
  Speaker 1: he had filled his stomach, he began to feel so
• 44:22
  Speaker 1: much better that he trotted around from one group to
• 44:26
  Speaker 1: another in a most restless manner. Seeing Whitetail feeding alone,
• 44:31
  Speaker 1: a sudden desire to get even with him for the
• 44:34
  Speaker 1: morning's work seized him. Ho whiteail, he called, I challenge
• 44:40
  Speaker 1: you to a race whilst care puma. Maybe, but that
• 44:43
  Speaker 1: will give us a good chance to show him how
• 44:45
  Speaker 1: little we are afraid of him. Is it wise to
• 44:49
  Speaker 1: arouse him, asked whitetail, wise sniffed young black Buck. Must
• 44:56
  Speaker 1: you ask that question whenever you want to do something.
• 44:59
  Speaker 1: But if you are afraid to race me through this
• 45:01
  Speaker 1: hunting ground, well and good, I'll go alone. I'm not afraid,
• 45:07
  Speaker 1: replied Whitetail, and I will accept your challenge if the
• 45:11
  Speaker 1: older ones say it is all right. Young black Buck
• 45:14
  Speaker 1: reported the matter to the leaders, and after a consultation,
• 45:18
  Speaker 1: father Buck announced, we're ready to go home, and if
• 45:22
  Speaker 1: Puma is aroused, we'll flee. Perhaps it's a good plan
• 45:26
  Speaker 1: to give young black Buck and Whitetail a chance to
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: see Puma. They will be on the lookout for him,
• 45:32
  Speaker 1: and when he appears, they can run home. Yes, they
• 45:36
  Speaker 1: must learn some day to meet him, and it is
• 45:39
  Speaker 1: well that it should be to day. With the consent
• 45:42
  Speaker 1: of the leader of the herd, the two young bucks
• 45:45
  Speaker 1: started off into the lower woods to make a complete
• 45:48
  Speaker 1: circuit of Puma's hunting round. It was a long wild run,
• 45:53
  Speaker 1: and they would need all their strength and powers. Father
• 45:57
  Speaker 1: Buck started them off, and they disappeared in the wood
• 46:00
  Speaker 1: like two arrows shot from a bow. What happened to
• 46:03
  Speaker 1: them in the race will be told in the next story.
• 46:08
  Speaker 1: End of story five, Story six of White Tailed the
• 46:17
  Speaker 1: Deer's Adventures. Like George Ethelbert Walsh, this LibriVox recording is
• 46:22
  Speaker 1: in the public domain. Downy the Woodpecker brings startling news.
• 46:29
  Speaker 1: Swift as the wind and almost as silently, White Tail
• 46:33
  Speaker 1: and Young black Book swept through the low timberland, skirting
• 46:37
  Speaker 1: the edge of Puma's hunting ground so they could circuit
• 46:41
  Speaker 1: it and return to the starting point. Like two good
• 46:45
  Speaker 1: long distance runners, neither made an effort to take the
• 46:48
  Speaker 1: lead at first it was to be a test of
• 46:51
  Speaker 1: endurance rather than of short Sprinting silently side by side,
• 46:56
  Speaker 1: They ran at first, leaping over fallen and trees in long,
• 47:01
  Speaker 1: graceful jumps, and spurting in sharp bursts of speed where
• 47:06
  Speaker 1: the trail was broad and open. It was not until
• 47:10
  Speaker 1: they had covered the first mile that first one and
• 47:13
  Speaker 1: then the other attempted to take the lead. Young black
• 47:17
  Speaker 1: buck shot ahead first, taking advantage of an open trail,
• 47:21
  Speaker 1: but a moment later whitetail leaped over a clump of
• 47:24
  Speaker 1: bushes and rushed a hand Young black buck pushed in
• 47:28
  Speaker 1: the lead again at the first opportunity. Neither took the
• 47:33
  Speaker 1: short spurts seriously, for they indicated nothing. Not until they
• 47:38
  Speaker 1: had covered the second mile did they begin to let
• 47:40
  Speaker 1: out in real earnestness. Black Buck, then, to see whether
• 47:44
  Speaker 1: whitetail was beginning to show any strain, rushed ahead and
• 47:49
  Speaker 1: spread himself out in a long, steady lope. Whitehail kept
• 47:54
  Speaker 1: close behind him until his speed began to slacken, and
• 47:57
  Speaker 1: then to show that he was still fresh and strong,
• 48:00
  Speaker 1: he dashed ahead and took the lead. Then followed another
• 48:04
  Speaker 1: mile of hard running. Both bucks were beginning to perspire
• 48:08
  Speaker 1: freely now, and the white lather showed on their flanks,
• 48:13
  Speaker 1: but neither one was winded or anywhere near the end
• 48:16
  Speaker 1: of their strength. Whitetail felt that he could keep up
• 48:19
  Speaker 1: the gate nearly all day. He felt singularly fresh and strong.
• 48:25
  Speaker 1: They had made half the circuit before either could try
• 48:27
  Speaker 1: to outdistance the other. The rest of the race would
• 48:31
  Speaker 1: decide which was the champion. Either they had to run
• 48:35
  Speaker 1: abreast of each other until the end, or one had
• 48:38
  Speaker 1: to take the lead. Suddenly, to Whitetail's surprise, Young black
• 48:43
  Speaker 1: Bucks slowed down and said, where on even terms up
• 48:47
  Speaker 1: to this point? White Tail? Suppose we rest awhile and
• 48:51
  Speaker 1: then go on. The woods are so beautiful here, and
• 48:55
  Speaker 1: I want to see what kind of place Buma lives in.
• 48:58
  Speaker 1: He's around here somewhere, I suppose. Yes. I came here
• 49:02
  Speaker 1: one day with father Buck, and he showed me where
• 49:05
  Speaker 1: Puma was. I smelt him and heard him. How exciting,
• 49:11
  Speaker 1: exclaimed Young black Buck. I wonder if we'll hear and
• 49:14
  Speaker 1: smell him to day. I want to know what he
• 49:17
  Speaker 1: looks like. I'm not so interested in that, laughed White Tail.
• 49:22
  Speaker 1: I don't want to get so close to him that
• 49:24
  Speaker 1: he can see me. No, but we might see him
• 49:29
  Speaker 1: and then steal silently away without being caught. White Till
• 49:34
  Speaker 1: wasn't so sure of that. He had a wholesome dread
• 49:37
  Speaker 1: of Puma's hunting powers. We might stumble upon him and
• 49:41
  Speaker 1: he sees us first, he added. He's very sly and
• 49:46
  Speaker 1: can hide, so no one can see him, But we
• 49:50
  Speaker 1: could smell him first, Not if we were on the
• 49:54
  Speaker 1: wrong side of the wind. Have you noticed which way
• 49:57
  Speaker 1: the wind is blowing. Why? Yes, from the right. Then
• 50:02
  Speaker 1: we don't have to fear anything on that side. We
• 50:05
  Speaker 1: must keep our eyes and ears open on the left.
• 50:09
  Speaker 1: It's my opinion, said young black Buck slowly, that Puma's
• 50:14
  Speaker 1: greatly overrate it why he hasn't killed one of the
• 50:18
  Speaker 1: herd as long as anyone can remember. No, but that's
• 50:23
  Speaker 1: because father Buck has been such a wise leader, Young
• 50:27
  Speaker 1: black Buck sniffed in scorn. I don't know that he's
• 50:31
  Speaker 1: been any better or wiser than other leaders, was the retort.
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: If my father had been leader, Puma or timber Wolf
• 50:39
  Speaker 1: wouldn't have caught a deer. They wouldn't have dared. They're
• 50:43
  Speaker 1: all afraid of him. Whitehail felt that this boasting wouldn't
• 50:48
  Speaker 1: get them anywhere and would in the end lead to
• 50:51
  Speaker 1: unpleasant words. But he knew that if puma or timber
• 50:55
  Speaker 1: wolf heard it, they would laugh in glee. If you're rested,
• 51:00
  Speaker 1: suppose we go back, Whitehill said, We're going to make
• 51:04
  Speaker 1: quicker time back. I'm going to run my best, and
• 51:08
  Speaker 1: I too, I'm going to beat you. I'm sorry you
• 51:11
  Speaker 1: got tired out and had to rest. Well, I'm ready.
• 51:16
  Speaker 1: White Tail could afford a smile at this remark. For
• 51:19
  Speaker 1: a young black buck had made a request to stop
• 51:22
  Speaker 1: for a short time, tired out, why he felt as
• 51:26
  Speaker 1: fresh and strong as when they started. He would punish
• 51:29
  Speaker 1: young black buck by making his defeat as unpleasant as
• 51:32
  Speaker 1: he could. But before either one could start for the
• 51:36
  Speaker 1: return trip, there was a noise among the leaves of
• 51:39
  Speaker 1: this spruce tree under which they were standing, and with
• 51:42
  Speaker 1: visions of puma crouching among the branches ready to drop
• 51:45
  Speaker 1: down upon them, their hearts gave a great bound and
• 51:49
  Speaker 1: almost stood still. In another moment, they would have been
• 51:53
  Speaker 1: off like a shock, but there was a flutter of
• 51:55
  Speaker 1: wings and Downy the woodpecker who had made the noise
• 51:59
  Speaker 1: with his spoke hist listen. He called listen, White Tail,
• 52:06
  Speaker 1: and you too, Young black Buck. Both of the runners
• 52:10
  Speaker 1: stopped and looked up among the branches of the trees
• 52:12
  Speaker 1: where Downey was sitting. Poomas on your trail, Downey added,
• 52:18
  Speaker 1: he caught your wind way back there, and he's been
• 52:21
  Speaker 1: trailing you ever since. I saw him and hurried to
• 52:24
  Speaker 1: tell you. Thank you, Downey replied Whitejail. It's time we
• 52:30
  Speaker 1: were off. He can never catch us if he's behind
• 52:34
  Speaker 1: I didn't say he was behind, you, replied Downey. He
• 52:38
  Speaker 1: was on your trail, but pumas too wise to follow
• 52:41
  Speaker 1: you that way. You don't know him. When he picked
• 52:45
  Speaker 1: up your trail. He followed you by the wind while
• 52:49
  Speaker 1: you were running around in a circle. He's been cutting
• 52:52
  Speaker 1: across it. He's between you and the herd. In that case,
• 52:58
  Speaker 1: said Young black Buck in a fright voice. We'll take
• 53:01
  Speaker 1: a wide circuit and he'll miss us again. Downy shook
• 53:06
  Speaker 1: his head. You are young, he said, and don't know
• 53:11
  Speaker 1: how puma hunts. He hunts with his mate, and she'll
• 53:15
  Speaker 1: be off to the right to head you off. Then
• 53:18
  Speaker 1: what can we do, asked Young black Buck, his legs
• 53:22
  Speaker 1: shaking and his voice trembling. I really don't know what
• 53:26
  Speaker 1: to say. I came here to tell you of your danger.
• 53:30
  Speaker 1: I can't tell you what to do. Couldn't we go
• 53:34
  Speaker 1: back a little on our track and then get around
• 53:37
  Speaker 1: Puma and his mate, asked Whitehail, struggling hard to keep cool.
• 53:43
  Speaker 1: I'm afraid if he do that, you'll run into timber
• 53:46
  Speaker 1: Wolf and his family. Puma gave him the alarm, and
• 53:49
  Speaker 1: he's out with his whole pack to cut you off
• 53:52
  Speaker 1: in that direction. By this time, young black Buck was
• 53:56
  Speaker 1: so excited and frightened that he hardly knew what to do.
• 54:01
  Speaker 1: To be cornered by Puma and timber Wolf with all
• 54:04
  Speaker 1: the yelping back was a terrible thing, and there seemed
• 54:08
  Speaker 1: no way of escape. A sudden rustling in the bushes
• 54:12
  Speaker 1: made him jump nearly five feet away. Even White Tail
• 54:16
  Speaker 1: leaped to one side. But it wasn't Puma or timber Wolf.
• 54:21
  Speaker 1: It was Washer the raccoon. And what Washer had to
• 54:24
  Speaker 1: propose will appear in the next story. Washer was considered
• 54:29
  Speaker 1: a very wise, shrewd animal, and perhaps he had a
• 54:33
  Speaker 1: way for them to escape. End of story six. Story
• 54:44
  Speaker 1: seven of White Tailed Deer's Adventures by George Ethelbert Walsh.
• 54:49
  Speaker 1: This Liverwook's recording is in the public domain. A race
• 54:53
  Speaker 1: with Puma and Timber. Washer de Raccoon poked his nose
• 54:59
  Speaker 1: out of the bush and looked blinkingly at Whitetail and
• 55:03
  Speaker 1: young black Buck, while Downy the woodpecker gazed down at
• 55:07
  Speaker 1: all three with an expression in his eyes that plainly said, well,
• 55:12
  Speaker 1: I'm glad I've got wings and can fly away if
• 55:15
  Speaker 1: I want to. Goodness, grunted Whitetail. You frightened the life
• 55:21
  Speaker 1: out of his Washer he thought you were Puma or
• 55:24
  Speaker 1: timber creeping upon us. Well, I've been mistaken for Grundie
• 55:30
  Speaker 1: and Billy Mink, but never for Puma or timber. Before
• 55:34
  Speaker 1: replied Washer, it must be that you're excited or have
• 55:38
  Speaker 1: a bad conscience. I wonder which it is. Not the latter,
• 55:43
  Speaker 1: I hope, answered Whitetail. But as for being excited, I
• 55:48
  Speaker 1: think we have good reason for that. Downey just brought
• 55:51
  Speaker 1: us word that Puma and Timber with their families are
• 55:55
  Speaker 1: on our trail and have us surrounded. Washer's up on
• 56:00
  Speaker 1: his hind legs and leaned against a tree. His shrewd
• 56:04
  Speaker 1: golden eyes flashed brightly in the sunshine, and his double
• 56:08
  Speaker 1: row of white teeth glistened every time he opened his mouth.
• 56:13
  Speaker 1: If that's the case, he said, I think it's about
• 56:17
  Speaker 1: time I took to my hole. I have no love
• 56:20
  Speaker 1: or respect for Buma and Timber now have we, said
• 56:25
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck, But we have no hole to run in.
• 56:28
  Speaker 1: What are we going to do? If you only had wings,
• 56:33
  Speaker 1: I could answer that question, interrupted Downy. I know what
• 56:37
  Speaker 1: i'd do, And if you had a hole you could
• 56:41
  Speaker 1: crawl in, I could advise you, added Washer. Of course,
• 56:46
  Speaker 1: this brought no relief to either white tails or young
• 56:49
  Speaker 1: black Buck's harassed minds. They weren't interested in what Downey
• 56:53
  Speaker 1: or Washer would do. They wanted to know what they
• 56:56
  Speaker 1: could do to escape the terrible trap. Suddenly, to make
• 57:01
  Speaker 1: their situation more desperate, a distant howl rent the air.
• 57:06
  Speaker 1: It was timber Wolf calling to the pack. Almost instantly,
• 57:11
  Speaker 1: there was an answering cry on the left, then another
• 57:14
  Speaker 1: in front, and a third on the right. It's the
• 57:19
  Speaker 1: pack's hunting cry, exclaimed Washer. They're calling to each other
• 57:23
  Speaker 1: as they close in. Yes, they've picked up your scent, Whitetail.
• 57:28
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck got so frightened and excited that he
• 57:32
  Speaker 1: leaped around in a circle uttering plaintive, little whimperers. I'm
• 57:37
  Speaker 1: going to run, he said, Even if I do nothing
• 57:41
  Speaker 1: but go round and around in circles, I can't stand still.
• 57:46
  Speaker 1: You'd better save your strength, Young black Buck advised Whitechail,
• 57:51
  Speaker 1: you may need all of it for the race, for
• 57:53
  Speaker 1: it is clear to me that we must trust to
• 57:55
  Speaker 1: our heels to beat them. What's that, exclaimed Young black Buck,
• 58:01
  Speaker 1: as a snarl in the distance alarmed them. It's Buma
• 58:05
  Speaker 1: and his mate creeping up from this direction, said Whitetail,
• 58:09
  Speaker 1: more alarmed than ever. With Buma and his mate in
• 58:13
  Speaker 1: the rear, and timbers back in front and on either side,
• 58:17
  Speaker 1: what chance do we have? Wait a minute, exclaimed Washer quietly.
• 58:24
  Speaker 1: I think I can suggest away. My whole is right
• 58:28
  Speaker 1: on the edge of black Ravine. I built it there
• 58:31
  Speaker 1: so I could watch the sunrise every morning. It's a
• 58:34
  Speaker 1: beautiful place, even if I do say so. Whitehill and
• 58:38
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck turned to him and waited impatiently for
• 58:42
  Speaker 1: him to proceed. Washer was aggravatingly slow. They were not
• 58:47
  Speaker 1: a bit interested in the beautiful view he had from
• 58:50
  Speaker 1: his hole. Black Ravine drops down fifty feet, and if
• 58:55
  Speaker 1: I should ever forget myself and fall over the edge.
• 58:58
  Speaker 1: It would be the lost of me. Washer continued, deliberately
• 59:02
  Speaker 1: picking his teeth with a twig. Yes, I told missus
• 59:07
  Speaker 1: Washer several times it was a beautiful but dangerous spot
• 59:11
  Speaker 1: to bring up our children. They might tumble into the ravine.
• 59:16
  Speaker 1: Never mind a ravine. Washer interrupted, Whitetail, you said you
• 59:21
  Speaker 1: had a way for us to escape. Please tell us
• 59:23
  Speaker 1: what it is. I was coming to that. You're very impatient,
• 59:28
  Speaker 1: white Tail and a ravine has a good deal to
• 59:30
  Speaker 1: deal with my plan. It's twenty feet across from side
• 59:34
  Speaker 1: to side. Can you jump twenty feet? Why? I don't know,
• 59:40
  Speaker 1: but maybe if all right? Then Washer interrupted, I'll show
• 59:45
  Speaker 1: you the way to black ravine in front of my house.
• 59:47
  Speaker 1: If Puma or Timber pursue you, all you got to
• 59:50
  Speaker 1: do is leap across the ravine. Timber couldn't follow you,
• 59:54
  Speaker 1: and I don't think Puma can jump that far. If
• 59:57
  Speaker 1: he couldn't, you'd have a big start. Puma and Timber
• 1:00:02
  Speaker 1: would have to go a mile down the ravine before
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 1: they could cross. It's wider in front of my house
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 1: than at the ends. Washer's plan dawned upon their minds
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 1: in an instant, and both bucks sprang up as if
• 1:00:15
  Speaker 1: to start for Black Ravine at once. Well do it,
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 1: exclaimed white Tail. I'll make the jump if I fall
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 1: in the ravine. It's better that way than to be
• 1:00:26
  Speaker 1: pulled down by Puma or Timber. It's much better not
• 1:00:30
  Speaker 1: to fall at all, was Washer's quiet remark. But now
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 1: don't get excited, or you'll jump from the frying pan
• 1:00:37
  Speaker 1: into the fire. How do you know if one of
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 1: Timber's family isn't watching the ravine, he may be. This
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 1: suggestion dashed their hopes and sent the cold chills down
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 1: their backs. No one could tell where the wolves and
• 1:00:52
  Speaker 1: pumas were scattered. They were closing in upon them on
• 1:00:55
  Speaker 1: all sides. They might surprise the cornered bucks before ever
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 1: they could reach Black Ravine. The only way I can suggest,
• 1:01:04
  Speaker 1: added Washer, is for Downy to fly ahead and report
• 1:01:09
  Speaker 1: to us where they're hiding. You could do that, Downey,
• 1:01:12
  Speaker 1: couldn't you Why? Certainly I'd be glad to then I
• 1:01:18
  Speaker 1: wouldn't waste any time. Downey immediately flew away in the
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 1: direction of Black Ravine, while Whitehaill and young black Buck
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 1: waited impatiently for his return. It seemed a long long
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 1: time to them and every few moments they could hear
• 1:01:33
  Speaker 1: the call of Timber and this pack. They were drawing
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 1: nearer and nearer, until finally it seemed as if one
• 1:01:40
  Speaker 1: was in the bushes not a dozen rods away. Downey
• 1:01:44
  Speaker 1: came back finally and said, it's all right, but you
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 1: must hurry. They're closing in so that if you don't
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 1: reach black Ravine soon, they'll head you off this way.
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 1: Follow me. He flew off to the right, but swift
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 1: as he want, Whitehail and young Buck were hardly a
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 1: yard behind him. They fairly flew across the ground, leaping
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 1: low bushes and trees in their flight. Wh Washer, being
• 1:02:11
  Speaker 1: much slower, decided not to follow. He knew another hole
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 1: where he could hide until the danger was over. Here
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 1: they come, screamed, Downey, suddenly, now run for your lives.
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 1: There's black Ravine ahead. At the same instant, Timber and
• 1:02:29
  Speaker 1: his pack broke cover and started for the fleeing bucks
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 1: in the open. Close on their right was Puma and
• 1:02:36
  Speaker 1: his mate. They set up a yelping and howling that
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 1: made the blood of the deer curdle and had to
• 1:02:43
  Speaker 1: be a short race for other wolves ahead threatened to
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 1: cut them off. But there was black ravine. Neither Whitehaill
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 1: nor young black buck knew how wide it was or
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 1: whether they could cross it. But when they reached the edge,
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 1: they shot out in one mighty leap and landed on
• 1:03:01
  Speaker 1: the opposite side. Could Puma follow? In the next story
• 1:03:06
  Speaker 1: you will find out what he did? End of story seven,
• 1:03:17
  Speaker 1: Story eight of White Tailed the Deer's Adventures by George
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 1: Ethelbert Walsh. This Liberfox recording is in the public domain.
• 1:03:26
  Speaker 1: Missus Puma and timber fight. The leap across black ravine
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 1: carried Whitehail and young black buck away from the yapping
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 1: jaws of timber Wolf. And this pack. Not one of
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 1: them dared to follow. They could no more do it
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 1: than fly. They stopped at the edge and howled woefully
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 1: as they saw their prey escape. But not Puma had
• 1:03:50
  Speaker 1: the mountain lion. He was a wonderful jumper himself, and
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 1: the sight of the escaping bucks made him wild with rage. Beside,
• 1:04:00
  Speaker 1: he was terribly hungry, and he was disappointed in not
• 1:04:04
  Speaker 1: catching at least one of the bucks. When he came
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 1: to the edge of the ravine, he hesitated a minute, snarling, spitting,
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 1: and whisking his long tail. He was so angry that
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 1: he knocked one of the wolves over when he got
• 1:04:18
  Speaker 1: in his way for a moment. There was a savage outcry,
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 1: and Timber threatened to pounce upon Puma's back, but the
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 1: fear of his powerful claws dissuaded him. Get away from
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 1: the edge, You snarling, sneveling sons of cowards, Puma growled.
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 1: When did a wolf ever bring down a buck in
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 1: fair play? You howl and snap and make a great fuss,
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 1: but your cowards at heart, let me show you what
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 1: a mountain lion can do. Back back from the edge,
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 1: I say. The wolves obeyed, but not without much snapping
• 1:04:57
  Speaker 1: of teeth and angry growls. Pum walked back a few
• 1:05:01
  Speaker 1: paces and then turned to face the cliff. Then, with
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 1: a sudden run and spring, he took the long leap
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 1: or the narrowly. Puma would have hesitated a long time
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 1: before attempting to jump across black ravine, but he was
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 1: wild with anger and disappointment. Besides, he knew Timber and
• 1:05:21
  Speaker 1: his pack were watching him, as well as his own mate.
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 1: He was puffed up with pride to show what he
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 1: could do, But alas pride had its downfall, Puma had
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 1: miscalculated the distance. He realized this before he was half across,
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 1: and to make up for it, he began squirming and
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 1: jerking in mid air, as if that would help him.
• 1:05:45
  Speaker 1: It did in a way, For catlike he had the
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 1: wonderful facility of actually jumping and leaping forward with his
• 1:05:53
  Speaker 1: feet off the ground, but it was of no avail.
• 1:05:57
  Speaker 1: He still lacked sufficient force to care carry him to
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 1: the other side. He stretched one forepaw far out, hoping
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 1: to grasp the edge, and the dead touched the rock,
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 1: but it only scratched and scraped it. When he found
• 1:06:13
  Speaker 1: himself falling downward, he thrust out the other fore leg
• 1:06:17
  Speaker 1: and clawed at the steep side of the cliff, but
• 1:06:20
  Speaker 1: there was nothing for him to hold to. The rocks
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 1: were so hard that its claws could get no perchase.
• 1:06:27
  Speaker 1: Down he went another yard. The edge of the cliff
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 1: was over his head, and fifty feet below was the
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 1: hard bottom of the ravine. A fall there would surely
• 1:06:38
  Speaker 1: dash out his brains and break every bone in his body.
• 1:06:43
  Speaker 1: Twenty feet down, doubling, whirling and screaming, Kuma saw a small,
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 1: stunted tree growing from a cleft in the side He
• 1:06:52
  Speaker 1: made one mighty lunge for this and caught it. He
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 1: landed with a thud against it, and clung to its
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 1: branches for life. He was so shaken by the full
• 1:07:03
  Speaker 1: that for a moment he could do nothing but blink
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 1: and gasp. The tree had scratched him in a dozen places,
• 1:07:10
  Speaker 1: and the hard rocks bruised and hurt his body. One
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 1: paul was bleeding, and the other was so sore that
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 1: he held it up in the air. Over his head.
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 1: Some twenty feet was the top of the cliff, with
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 1: its sides so steep that no puma could hope to
• 1:07:27
  Speaker 1: crawl up them. Below was the bottom, which seemed equally
• 1:07:31
  Speaker 1: difficult to reach. Opposite looking down at him were Timber
• 1:07:35
  Speaker 1: and his family. What a lucky fall for you, buma,
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 1: jeered Timber, and what a poor jump. White Tail and
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 1: young Buck cleared it easily and you couldn't cross it now, braggart,
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 1: what are you going to do to get out? You
• 1:07:52
  Speaker 1: can hang there and rot before I'll help you. M
• 1:07:55
  Speaker 1: h oh, you call my tribe cowards, then I call
• 1:07:59
  Speaker 1: you and yours dirty braggarts. You couldn't A rumbling growl
• 1:08:06
  Speaker 1: at Timber's left caused him to turn. Suddenly, Puma's mate
• 1:08:10
  Speaker 1: was facing him, with her eyes spitting fire and her
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 1: great right claw raised to strike. Son of a coward,
• 1:08:19
  Speaker 1: she thundered, how dare you speak that way to one
• 1:08:23
  Speaker 1: of my family. Puma may be caught down there, but
• 1:08:26
  Speaker 1: you have me to reckon with. Timber immediately saw his mistake.
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 1: He had forgotten Missus Puma, who was almost as ferocious
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 1: as Puma. She was smaller, but fully as quick and lithe.
• 1:08:41
  Speaker 1: Timber's manners immediately changed, and he became as meek and
• 1:08:45
  Speaker 1: fawning as he was before, threatening and defiant. I didn't
• 1:08:51
  Speaker 1: refer to you, missus Puma, he whined. Of course, I
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 1: know you are much stronger and quicker than Puma, and
• 1:09:00
  Speaker 1: you lie you sneveling, cur interrupted Missus Puma. For the
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 1: tale of a dear. I'd knock you in the ravine
• 1:09:08
  Speaker 1: for my mate to eat for his supper. Timber slinked
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 1: back from the edge. He knew that one blow from
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 1: that upraised pall would send him hurtling through space. But
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 1: once back from the edge, his manner changed again. Missus
• 1:09:23
  Speaker 1: Puma stood near the edge now, and surrounding her was
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 1: the half circle of wolves, All of Timber's pack had arrived,
• 1:09:31
  Speaker 1: and they were as thirsty as he for blood. They
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 1: were ten to one. It flashed through Timber's mind that
• 1:09:39
  Speaker 1: this was a good time to settle an old score
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 1: with Puma. He had never taken kindly to Puma's lordly
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 1: ways in dividing the hunting ground between them. Puma had
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 1: always claimed more than the share of the prey. Sometimes
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 1: he had eaten three quarters of a carcass and only
• 1:09:58
  Speaker 1: turned over a small portion to ten family. And they
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 1: were a hungry family, half starved at times when the
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 1: hunting was poor. All his old grievances came back to him,
• 1:10:10
  Speaker 1: and he felt that here was a chance to settle
• 1:10:12
  Speaker 1: the dispute for good. Puma was caught in the ravine
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 1: where he might starve and die. Why not them push
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 1: Missus Puma after him? Oh, Missus Puma, he said, you
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 1: flatter me. My family aren't such cowards as you think.
• 1:10:30
  Speaker 1: Just to show you, turn around and see them. They're
• 1:10:34
  Speaker 1: all here, the whole pack. Missus Puma whirled about and
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 1: saw the semicircle of snarling, snapping wolves. Then, for the
• 1:10:43
  Speaker 1: first time in her life, she felt afraid she might
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 1: kill two or three of Timber's family before they conquered her.
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 1: But eventually they would drive her over the cliff. But
• 1:10:55
  Speaker 1: it was no time to show fear. That would be
• 1:10:58
  Speaker 1: the signal for the wolves to close in on her.
• 1:11:02
  Speaker 1: I see them, the whole pack, she snarled, and every
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 1: one of them is a coward. Not one dare touch
• 1:11:10
  Speaker 1: me unless the others push him within reach of my claws.
• 1:11:13
  Speaker 1: See the whole pack jumps and screams. When I strike.
• 1:11:18
  Speaker 1: With a vicious drive of her paw, she made those
• 1:11:21
  Speaker 1: nearest leap back in fear. She followed this up with
• 1:11:25
  Speaker 1: another drive. Timber saw that unless he acted at once,
• 1:11:30
  Speaker 1: his family would become panic stricken. Raising himself on his
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 1: hind feet, ready for a spring, he opened his mouth
• 1:11:38
  Speaker 1: and uttered the hunting cry of the pack. Then, at
• 1:11:42
  Speaker 1: a given signal, they attacked all at once. They darted
• 1:11:46
  Speaker 1: forward with yelps of defiance, Timber leading. But what a
• 1:11:51
  Speaker 1: surprise awaited them. Missus Puma had guessed their actions, and
• 1:11:56
  Speaker 1: with a mighty spring in the air, she leaped clear
• 1:11:59
  Speaker 1: over the backs of the encircling crowd. It was a
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 1: wonderful spring, and nothing but fear could have made her
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 1: do it. It landed her safely back of the wolves.
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 1: Then before they could turn and charge again, she took
• 1:12:14
  Speaker 1: another spring and was safe in the branches of a tree.
• 1:12:18
  Speaker 1: Some other day, thou dog of a coward, Missus Puma said,
• 1:12:23
  Speaker 1: I'll sleep here until you get tired of waiting. Having
• 1:12:28
  Speaker 1: got Missus Puma out of trouble, we will follow white
• 1:12:31
  Speaker 1: Tail and the next story. End of story eight. Story
• 1:12:43
  Speaker 1: nine of White Tailed Deer's Adventures by George Ethelbert Walsh.
• 1:12:49
  Speaker 1: This Liberfox recording is in the public domain. Recording by
• 1:12:52
  Speaker 1: Phone Young Black Book has an accident. It is hard
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 1: work to starve a puma, a mountain lion when treed,
• 1:13:02
  Speaker 1: and perhaps harder yet to imprison him on the side
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 1: of a steep cliff. Timber Wolf knew this, and after
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 1: the escape of Missus Puma up the tree, he grew
• 1:13:13
  Speaker 1: uneasy and decided that it was safer for him to
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 1: lead the pack back to their own hunting ground. When
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 1: they had gone, Missus Puma leaped down to the ground
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 1: and ran to the edge of the ravine to see
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 1: what had become of her mate. She was not greatly
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 1: surprised when she saw that he had slowly made his
• 1:13:32
  Speaker 1: way to the bottom of the chasm and was looking
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 1: up to see where she was. With a little cry
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: of joy, she trotted down to the end of the
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 1: ravine to rejoin him. Meanwhile, of course, white Tail and
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 1: young black Buck were running like the wind, anxious to
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 1: get as far away from their pursuers as they could.
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 1: They didn't know what had happened at Black Ravine, and
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 1: they couldn't stop to investigate. The fear that the RULs
• 1:14:00
  Speaker 1: and mountain lions might still be on their trail kept
• 1:14:03
  Speaker 1: them going until they were nearly exhausted. One mile, two miles,
• 1:14:09
  Speaker 1: three miles. They ran without stopping or looking around, fear
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 1: lending speed to their legs. Then something happened which brought
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 1: them to a sudden halt. Young black Bugs stumbled and
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 1: plunged headfirst to the ground. When he tried to get
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 1: up again, he groaned with pain and held a foreleg
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 1: in the air as if it hurt him. Oh, I've
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 1: broken my leg, he cried. I can't run another step.
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 1: They'll catch me now I know I can't escape them. Whitetail,
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 1: whose momentum had carried him some distance ahead, stopped and
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 1: turned around. Let me see it, he said, sniffing at
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 1: the leg. After quickly examining it, he added, No, it
• 1:14:57
  Speaker 1: isn't broken, only sprained. Can't you stand on it? No,
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 1: not for an instant. Oh what will become of me? Hark?
• 1:15:08
  Speaker 1: Isn't that pouma growling? No, replied Whitechail, listening with his
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 1: head flung back and his nose in the air. Then
• 1:15:17
  Speaker 1: it's timber calling. I'm sure it is. Whitechail listened again.
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 1: He was trembling himself for the fright and exhausting run
• 1:15:26
  Speaker 1: had made him very nervous. It's something, but I don't
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 1: think it's timber Wolf. He hasn't had time to run
• 1:15:33
  Speaker 1: around the end of black Ravine. But he'll be here soon,
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 1: whined Young black Buck. Then we must be going. We
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 1: can't stay here. You must run on three legs. You
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 1: can do it, not so fast as timber Wolf or poom.
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 1: I can run on four legs. Oh, you won't leave me, Whiteail,
• 1:15:54
  Speaker 1: will you? I shall die of fear if you do.
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 1: I've always been your friend. I won't leave you yet,
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 1: replied Whitetail. Lie down in the bushes and I will
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 1: run back and see if I can find Timber or Puma.
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 1: If they're coming. Don't leave me, interrupted Young black Buck.
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 1: Just then, when Whitetail was uncertain what to do and
• 1:16:19
  Speaker 1: so nervous that he couldn't stand still, Downy the woodpecker appeared.
• 1:16:24
  Speaker 1: He fluttered in a tree, just as if he had
• 1:16:26
  Speaker 1: been there waiting for them all the time. Oh, Downy,
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 1: cried whitetail, where are they? Are they on our trail? Yet?
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 1: Did they get across black ravine? Downey finished hauling a
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 1: grub out of its hole in the tree bark before
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 1: he answered no. He then said they didn't get across
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 1: black ravine, but puma got in it, and he's there now,
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 1: screaming with rage. He jumped and fell in it, asked
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck. Yes, nodded down. He tried to show
• 1:17:01
  Speaker 1: Timber's family what he could do, and he made a
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 1: pretty sight of himself. He missed the opposite side by
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 1: a few inches, and if it hadn't been for a
• 1:17:10
  Speaker 1: small tree growing on the rocks, he would have fallen
• 1:17:13
  Speaker 1: to the bottom and been killed. I wish he had,
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 1: said young black Buck. Well he wasn't, added Downey, so
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 1: it's no good wishing for what didn't happen. He'll roll
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 1: down and get on his feet again. It's pretty hard
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 1: to kill Puma. What did Timber and his back do,
• 1:17:34
  Speaker 1: asked Whitetail. They did just what you might expect of them.
• 1:17:38
  Speaker 1: They jeered and laughed at Puma, and then missus Puma interfered.
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 1: I thought that Timber and Puma were friends, said Whitetail.
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 1: Such selfish friendship as they had for each other doesn't
• 1:17:52
  Speaker 1: amount too much. It only takes a little for them
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 1: to fall out and begin fighting each other. And that's
• 1:17:59
  Speaker 1: just what happened. Timber thought it was a good time
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 1: to attack missus Puma, and his whole pack jumped at her.
• 1:18:07
  Speaker 1: And what happened, then, breathlessly, asked Whitetail. Missus Puma jumped too,
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 1: and as she could jump faster and farther than Timber,
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 1: she got away and ran up a tree. There I
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 1: left her, with the wolves howling underneath. I think then
• 1:18:24
  Speaker 1: they'll give up the chase, remarked Whitetail. It's very fortunate
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 1: for us, for Young black Buck has sprained his leg
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 1: and will have the limp the rest of the way.
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 1: I can't limp far on three legs, whined Young black Buck.
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 1: And we are far away from the herd, aren't we downye? Yes,
• 1:18:45
  Speaker 1: so many miles. I can't count em. You've been running
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 1: away from where you started, and it will take you
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 1: a long long time to get home. Whitetail and young
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 1: black Buck were greatly distressed by this information, for night
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 1: was coming on, and to be caught after dark away
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 1: from the herd in the heart of strange woods was
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 1: a most unpleasant outlook. White Tail might have made it
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 1: by hard running, but young black Buck could never do it,
• 1:19:14
  Speaker 1: and Whitehail wasn't going to leave him alone in the woods.
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 1: He was too loyal for that. There doesn't seem to
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 1: be any choice in the matter, Whitehail said, We've got
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 1: to stay here and make the best of it. But
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 1: you could get home alone, white Tail, if you started
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 1: right away, suggested Downey. It will be moonlight early in
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 1: the evening, and you can find your way once you
• 1:19:39
  Speaker 1: reach the shallow stream. Yes, I know the way, but
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 1: I couldn't leave young black Buck behind. No, I couldn't
• 1:19:48
  Speaker 1: think of it. We'll find a resting place among the
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 1: bushes and stay here until morning. Then maybe his leg
• 1:19:55
  Speaker 1: will be better. Downey nodded his hand and began pecking
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 1: away at the bark of the tree for another grub.
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck looked thankfully at the speaker, but said nothing.
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 1: I'm afraid I'll have to leave you soon, Downey remarked
• 1:20:11
  Speaker 1: after a while. I'm a long distance from my home,
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 1: and I don't see that I can help you any
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 1: by staying. No, smiled Whitechail, except to give us warning
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 1: of danger when it comes. There's no danger now unless
• 1:20:27
  Speaker 1: he stopped and listened attentively, unless what Downey. I don't
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 1: know that I should say it, for I don't want
• 1:20:36
  Speaker 1: to freighten you. But there are man hunters in this wood.
• 1:20:40
  Speaker 1: They've pitched a camp a few miles back of here,
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 1: but if they haven't dogs with them, they won't find you.
• 1:20:47
  Speaker 1: Just keep quiet here in the bushes until morning. We
• 1:20:51
  Speaker 1: certainly will, replied Whitechail. I dread the man hunters as
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 1: much as puma and timber, especially if they have dogs.
• 1:21:00
  Speaker 1: And all through the night he thought and dreamt of
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 1: the man hunter's but nothing happened until morning, and then
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 1: the distant baying of a dog startled him. End of
• 1:21:12
  Speaker 1: story nine, Story ten of white Tail The Deer's Adventures
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 1: by George Ethelbert Walsh. This Libervook's recording is in the
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 1: public domain, recording by phone Whitetail's magnanimous act. Whitetail could
• 1:21:35
  Speaker 1: not mistake the sound of the dogs in the distance.
• 1:21:38
  Speaker 1: Neither could young black Buck, who was instantly on his feet.
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 1: The dread sound had more to do in curing the
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 1: sprained foot than the night's rest, and he followed Whitetail,
• 1:21:50
  Speaker 1: trotting around and sniffing the air in every direction. Are
• 1:21:54
  Speaker 1: they coming this way? Young black Buck asked. It's hard
• 1:21:58
  Speaker 1: to tell, White Whitetail. I haven't picked up their scent yet,
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 1: but I don't need you. I hear them. We must
• 1:22:07
  Speaker 1: be going before they find us. Is your lame leg
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 1: strong enough? Yes, it's all right again a little lane,
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 1: but not much. Which way shall we go? And consciously,
• 1:22:20
  Speaker 1: young black Buck have been depending upon whitetail ever since
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 1: danger first threatened them, and this was a sure sign
• 1:22:28
  Speaker 1: that he recognized qualities of leadership in his rival that
• 1:22:31
  Speaker 1: he did not possess. And Whitehail had accepted it without
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 1: giving it much thought. I think he said. Finally, they're
• 1:22:41
  Speaker 1: off to the right, where Downey said the white hunters
• 1:22:44
  Speaker 1: had their camp. Then we should go to the left,
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 1: but that will take us to the hunting grounds. Of
• 1:22:50
  Speaker 1: Puma and timber Wolf, protested Young black Buck. Yes, I know,
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 1: but we can swing around north of them before we
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 1: reach their woods. At any rate, we can't run right
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 1: into danger. Whitetail took up the lead and young black
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 1: Buck followed. They stole away in the woods almost as
• 1:23:11
  Speaker 1: silently as shadows. A well worn trail led into the
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 1: darkest and thickest part of the forest, and as this
• 1:23:19
  Speaker 1: kept going straight away from the manhunter's camp, they stuck
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 1: close to it. Maybe this is Puma's trail, young black
• 1:23:27
  Speaker 1: buck remarked, after they had gone a considerable distance. No
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 1: deer have been this way, No, of course not. This
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 1: isn't our woods. But Puma hasn't been here. I could
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 1: smell him. Then chimber Wolf and his pack made it. No,
• 1:23:45
  Speaker 1: it hasn't timber smell either. Whitetail had his nose close
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 1: to the ground, and while he couldn't quite make out
• 1:23:53
  Speaker 1: whose trail it was, he felt confident that it wasn't
• 1:23:56
  Speaker 1: that of either Puma or timber Still, it is always
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 1: dangerous to follow an unknown trail. It's against the law
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 1: of the herd for the leader to do so, and
• 1:24:07
  Speaker 1: had Whitehill known it, he would have taken to the
• 1:24:10
  Speaker 1: thick woods. But he thought he was doing right, for
• 1:24:13
  Speaker 1: it was much easier to travel faster in this way.
• 1:24:17
  Speaker 1: He was jogging along cautiously. When the trail became suddenly
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 1: very strong and fresh. He stopped and flung up his hand.
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 1: That animal odor that had caught his nose startled him.
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 1: But the sight which met his eyes startled him more
• 1:24:33
  Speaker 1: than the strange odor. There standing directly in the broad trail,
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 1: grinning at them was Buster the Bear. What a shock
• 1:24:42
  Speaker 1: had gave him? Buster seemed to tower up so big
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 1: that he looked like a giant of a bear. With
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 1: a snort of fear, white tail turned and sprang out
• 1:24:53
  Speaker 1: of the trail, clearing a clump of bushes in a
• 1:24:56
  Speaker 1: beautiful jump, and calling to young black Buck to follow.
• 1:25:00
  Speaker 1: The latter didn't need this advice, for he was already
• 1:25:04
  Speaker 1: out of the trail, running for dear life. Now back
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 1: in the broad trail, Buster, who had been nearly as
• 1:25:12
  Speaker 1: much surprised as they, suddenly roared with glee, his fat
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 1: sides shaking and wobbling. Oho. He laughed, what a scare
• 1:25:22
  Speaker 1: I gave them, and they didn't open my mouth. I
• 1:25:26
  Speaker 1: wonder what they'd done if i'd roared like this. He
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 1: let out a roar that shook the leaves off the
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 1: bushes and made whitehail and young black buck run harder
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 1: than ever. To them, it seemed as if that roar
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 1: was trying to catch them, and they couldn't dodge its echo.
• 1:25:44
  Speaker 1: But of course Buster wasn't pursuing them. In the first place,
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 1: he knew he couldn't overtake them, and in the second
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 1: he wasn't particularly hungry and rarely killed deer or bucks.
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 1: He was too kind hearted for that. But he did
• 1:26:00
  Speaker 1: enjoy a joke, and he thought it was a huge
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 1: one to scare them half out of their wits. Whitetail
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 1: and young black buck ran without knowing which way they
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 1: were going. In fact, they might have run straight into
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 1: the camp of the man hunters if they hadn't been
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 1: stopped by the sudden baying of the dogs. This time,
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 1: the dogs were so close that they couldn't expect to
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 1: throw them off their scent. In fact, one of them
• 1:26:27
  Speaker 1: saw Whitetail's head and immediately gave the signal. He rushed
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 1: for them with wild yelps of delight, and two others
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 1: followed him. The two bucks swung around in another direction
• 1:26:41
  Speaker 1: and ran pell mell through the woods. The fear of
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 1: the dogs made them forget Buster. Indeed, Whitetail realized his mistake.
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 1: Now he knew that Buster could not overtake him in
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 1: a race, but the dogs of the man hunters might.
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 1: They would follow them night and day until exhaust and
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 1: killed one or the other. We're in for it now,
• 1:27:04
  Speaker 1: Whitetail said to his companion, breathing hard. The dogs are
• 1:27:09
  Speaker 1: fresh and we are not. We must find a river
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 1: to throw them off our scent. But finding a river
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 1: in strange woods was not an easy thing to do.
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 1: So far as they knew there was no river there.
• 1:27:23
  Speaker 1: They were completely turned around and hardly knew which direction
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 1: to take to reach home. Young black Bucks soon began
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 1: to show signs of weariness, and his lame leg hurt
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 1: him again In vain. Whitetail urged him on, but he
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 1: couldn't run any faster. The dogs would certainly soon overtake him.
• 1:27:44
  Speaker 1: Then Whitetail did a magnanimous thing. He couldn't bear to
• 1:27:49
  Speaker 1: leave his companion behind to be pulled down by the
• 1:27:52
  Speaker 1: dogs while he escaped. No, no, that would never do
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: for one who some day expected to be leader of
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 1: the herd, Young black Buck, he said, running along by
• 1:28:04
  Speaker 1: the side of the panting creature, You run straight on
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 1: as hard as you can. I'm going to stop here
• 1:28:11
  Speaker 1: and till the dogs see me. Then i'll lead them
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 1: off to the left. So long as they can see me,
• 1:28:16
  Speaker 1: they'll follow me and forget this scent. When I get
• 1:28:20
  Speaker 1: them far enough away, I'll run faster and get away
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 1: from them. You understand, Young black buck nodded his hand.
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 1: He was too tired to reply in words. Then go on,
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 1: I'll wait here and till the dogs come up. It
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 1: was a risky thing to do, but Whitehail felt that
• 1:28:41
  Speaker 1: alone he could outrun the dogs. At any rate. He
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: was going to do that much for his companion. He
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 1: didn't have long to wait. The baying hounds soon appeared,
• 1:28:52
  Speaker 1: and catching sight of Whitetail, they started for him. With
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 1: the yelps of the light. Whitetail sprang away in the bushes,
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 1: but not so fast that the dogs lost sight of him.
• 1:29:03
  Speaker 1: He noticed that all three were chasing him. Then, when
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 1: some distance away from the fork in the trail, he
• 1:29:10
  Speaker 1: increased his speed. In a very short time, he was
• 1:29:15
  Speaker 1: out of sight again, but the hounds were on his scent.
• 1:29:18
  Speaker 1: They had lost young black bucks, and there was no
• 1:29:21
  Speaker 1: chance of there picking it up again. Away on the wind,
• 1:29:25
  Speaker 1: white Tail flew. His tremendous strides carried him far in
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 1: the lead. Mile after mile he covered, his proud head
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 1: flung back, his nostrils distended. It was a killing pace,
• 1:29:39
  Speaker 1: but the dogs held on behind. How long could he
• 1:29:42
  Speaker 1: stand it? Another mile and the pace began to tell
• 1:29:47
  Speaker 1: on him. He was growing weary and exhausted, but the
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 1: dogs were still coming. When he began to fear he
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 1: could not escape, it began to rain, falling gently at
• 1:29:59
  Speaker 1: first and then more heavily. In the next story you
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 1: will read of how the rain helped him. End of
• 1:30:07
  Speaker 1: story ten. Story eleven of Whitetail, The Deer's Adventures by
• 1:30:18
  Speaker 1: George Eeselbert Walsh. This Liberfox recording is in the public domain.
• 1:30:24
  Speaker 1: Recording by Phone Whitehail's adventure in the camp. The rain
• 1:30:31
  Speaker 1: made Whitehill's difficulties worse, for the logs and stones were
• 1:30:36
  Speaker 1: so slippery that he stumbled time and again, and to
• 1:30:40
  Speaker 1: avoid a fall he had to slacken his pace. The dogs,
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 1: on the other hand, kept up their pace as the
• 1:30:47
  Speaker 1: slippery things did not seem to bother them, and they
• 1:30:50
  Speaker 1: began to gain on the fleeing book very rapidly. Their
• 1:30:55
  Speaker 1: deep baying drew so near that Whitehail became startled. But
• 1:31:00
  Speaker 1: all this time the rain was planning to help the buck,
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 1: although he did not know it at the time. He
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 1: was feeling very uncomfortable as well as frightened. The steady
• 1:31:12
  Speaker 1: downpour soaked him to the skin, and the driving wind
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 1: splashed the rain drops in his eyes, half blinding him.
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 1: When the dogs drew so near that Whitehail felt they
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 1: would soon see him, he turned abruptly round and ran
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 1: at right angles to his former course. He had not
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 1: tried dodging before, but had kept on a straight course.
• 1:31:37
  Speaker 1: To his surprise, he heard the barking of the dogs
• 1:31:40
  Speaker 1: grow suddenly fainter, and then very confused. The fact was
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 1: the heavy downpour of rain had nearly blotted out his
• 1:31:49
  Speaker 1: trail and the dogs could not readily pick it up
• 1:31:52
  Speaker 1: again so long as he kept on in straight course.
• 1:31:57
  Speaker 1: The dogs had followed him, but now by dodging, Whitetail
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 1: found he could easily elude them. So faint was the
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 1: scent he left behind, the rain washed that away and
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 1: completely baffled the dogs. It was a great blessing for
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 1: Whitehail was badly winded. He was so tired that as
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 1: soon as he left the dogs far in the rear
• 1:32:22
  Speaker 1: he saw shelter from the rain. He was almost exhausted
• 1:32:26
  Speaker 1: with his efforts, and the bed of leaves or grass
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 1: would be the greatest blessing in the world. Directly ahead
• 1:32:34
  Speaker 1: of him he saw an old, deserted open camp standing
• 1:32:38
  Speaker 1: in a partial clearing. It was built of pine logs
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 1: with the bark left on, and a roof and three sides.
• 1:32:47
  Speaker 1: The front was left open, with an old camp fireplace
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 1: of stones and rocks a few feet away. At first,
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 1: Whitetail stopped and looked at the camp suspiciously. If the
• 1:32:59
  Speaker 1: manhunters lived in it, he should avoid it as he
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 1: would puma or timber. But if it were deserted, there
• 1:33:06
  Speaker 1: would be no harm in seeking shelter under its roof.
• 1:33:10
  Speaker 1: He watched, listened, and sniffed for a long time before
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 1: he dared approach it. Then by degrees he walked closer
• 1:33:20
  Speaker 1: until he had a chance to look inside. There was
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 1: no one there, and it had not been inhabited for
• 1:33:27
  Speaker 1: a long long time. Whitehail could tell this by the
• 1:33:31
  Speaker 1: absence of any odor, I think it's safe, he muttered,
• 1:33:36
  Speaker 1: after another close examination. I'll spend a night here. I'm
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 1: dreadfully tired and so wet. I'm cold and shivery. He
• 1:33:47
  Speaker 1: walked under the sheltering roof and found a bed of
• 1:33:51
  Speaker 1: sweet smelling spruce boughs in one corner. They were perfectly dry,
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 1: and Whitehail gave a grunt of satisfaction. It was a
• 1:34:00
  Speaker 1: dry shelter with a soft, dry bend already prepared for him.
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 1: He dropped down on it with a sigh of intense relief.
• 1:34:10
  Speaker 1: It rained hard all night. White Tail could hear the
• 1:34:14
  Speaker 1: floods of water pouring on the roof of a shelter,
• 1:34:18
  Speaker 1: but under it the place was dry and warm. Darkness
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 1: came early in the woods, and it was soon pitchy black.
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 1: He felt perfectly safe if none of the night prowlers appeared.
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: The rain, however, was a protection to him, for even
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 1: puma and timber rarely ventured forth in such a storm.
• 1:34:40
  Speaker 1: They preferred to do their hunting on clear, dry nights,
• 1:34:44
  Speaker 1: when the scent of their prey was clear and distinct.
• 1:34:49
  Speaker 1: I don't think anybody will disturb me until morning. Whitetail said,
• 1:34:54
  Speaker 1: and I can rest here in peace. But of course
• 1:34:59
  Speaker 1: you can never tell what may happen in the wild woods.
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 1: Suppose puma or timber wolf should be caught away from
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 1: home in the rain. If they were and saw the
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 1: open camp, they would very naturally seek it for shelter,
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 1: just as Whitehill had done. It was quite early in
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 1: the evening when Whitehail was awakened from slumber by a
• 1:35:22
  Speaker 1: thump thump outside. It came nearer and nearer. Whitehill was
• 1:35:27
  Speaker 1: so frightened that he could scarcely breathe. He trembled in
• 1:35:32
  Speaker 1: every limb. Some animal was coming around the side of
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 1: the open camp. Before Whitehail could leap to his feet
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 1: to run, A head was thrust around the corner, and
• 1:35:44
  Speaker 1: a pair of wonderful eyes looked at him. At the
• 1:35:48
  Speaker 1: same instant, the owner of them caught sight of Whitetails. Hello, Bumper,
• 1:35:55
  Speaker 1: Whitehail exclaimed. When he recognized Bumper, the white rabbit. Don't
• 1:36:00
  Speaker 1: be afraid, I'm white Taill the deer. Well, I'm mighty
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: glad of that, replied Bumper. Approaching. You gave me an
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 1: awful start. At first, I thought you were mister fox
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 1: or sneaky the wolf or Booma, and I thought you
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 1: were a timber wolf or the man hunters or their dogs.
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 1: Seeing that we were both wrong, then said Bumper, we
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 1: might share this camp between us. You have no objection,
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 1: I hope no. I'm glad to have company. I'm dreadfully
• 1:36:35
  Speaker 1: excited and alarmed. Then he told the white rabbit about
• 1:36:40
  Speaker 1: his adventures, ending up with the pursuit by the dogs
• 1:36:44
  Speaker 1: and his escape to the deserted camp. You certainly did
• 1:36:49
  Speaker 1: have a hard time of it, said Bumper when he
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 1: had finished. And you're a long way from home. I
• 1:36:56
  Speaker 1: do hope you can get back without accident. What's that?
• 1:37:00
  Speaker 1: Bumper stopped, and Whitehail raised his head in alarm. There
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 1: was a scream outside, and then a wild commotion in
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 1: the bushes. The next moment, something came rushing in the
• 1:37:12
  Speaker 1: camp and flopped down right at Whitehail's feet. It was Rusty,
• 1:37:18
  Speaker 1: the blackbird. Help help, oh, help me, Rusty cried, The
• 1:37:24
  Speaker 1: great horny owl is after me. Here he comes now,
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 1: And out of the darkness swept a shadowy figure that
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 1: hardly made any noise, but the moment it saw Whitetail,
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 1: it stopped and circled around his head. Whitehail raised his
• 1:37:42
  Speaker 1: hand and swung his big antlers threateningly at Great Horn.
• 1:37:48
  Speaker 1: Look out, he said, or I'll hit you. Don't come
• 1:37:52
  Speaker 1: any nearer, Great Horn, Is that you, white Tail asked
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: Great Horn. I didn't know you were here. Well, I
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 1: won't disturb you. I'm after Rusty there at your feet.
• 1:38:05
  Speaker 1: Let me have him, and I will leave at once.
• 1:38:09
  Speaker 1: You will leave at once without Rusty, replied white Tail.
• 1:38:13
  Speaker 1: He's a friend of mine and I'm going to protect him.
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 1: Hoot hoot, shouted the owl in laughter. I'll take him,
• 1:38:23
  Speaker 1: whether you want me to or not. He made a
• 1:38:26
  Speaker 1: swift dive for poor Rusty, but Whitetail's big antlers swung
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 1: around and knocked him over one prong hurt Great Horn
• 1:38:36
  Speaker 1: so that he flew back to a safe place. If
• 1:38:41
  Speaker 1: you come nearer, I'll hurt you worse the next time.
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 1: Warrant Whiteail, Great Horn sat there and considered for some time,
• 1:38:51
  Speaker 1: his great eyes blinking and winking. What are you doing here,
• 1:38:56
  Speaker 1: white Tail, he asked, finally, don't you know you're on
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 1: Puma's hunting grounds. Well, if you don't know it, you
• 1:39:03
  Speaker 1: ought to. I think Puma might be interested in knowing it.
• 1:39:08
  Speaker 1: Now give me Rusty at once, or I'll fly away
• 1:39:11
  Speaker 1: and tell Puma. This threat made Rusty tremble and Bumper
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 1: shiver in his corner where he was hiding under the bows.
• 1:39:21
  Speaker 1: But Whitetail did neither go and tell him. Great Horn
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 1: he replied, I won't give up, Rusty, I'll protect my friends,
• 1:39:32
  Speaker 1: and Great Horn flew away. What he did will appear
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 1: in the next story. End of story eleven. Story twelve
• 1:39:48
  Speaker 1: of White Till the Year's Adventures by George as a
• 1:39:51
  Speaker 1: birdwatch this Libripook's recording is in a public domain recording
• 1:39:56
  Speaker 1: by phone. Whitetail escapes a moment Great Horny Owl flew
• 1:40:03
  Speaker 1: out of the open camp to tell Puma of Whitehill's
• 1:40:06
  Speaker 1: hiding place. Bumper hopped from his place in the corner,
• 1:40:11
  Speaker 1: and Rusty jumped to a perch on one of the
• 1:40:13
  Speaker 1: book's antlers. Oh dear, began Rusty, I've got trouble upon you,
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 1: white Tail. Great Horn will guide Puma here. I wish
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 1: now i'd never flown in here. No, you don't wish that,
• 1:40:28
  Speaker 1: Rusty replied Whitetail. If you hadn't come here, Great Horn
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 1: would have killed you. And now Puma will kill you,
• 1:40:38
  Speaker 1: not if I can help it, smiled Whitetail. He's been
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 1: on my trail before, and I shook him off. Then
• 1:40:46
  Speaker 1: he told Rusty of his adventures. You're wonderful, white Tail,
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 1: the blackbird said when he had finished. You saved Jong
• 1:40:55
  Speaker 1: black Buck's life and nearly lost your own. Now you've
• 1:40:59
  Speaker 1: saved my life and got yourself in more danger. I
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 1: wish I could do something to help you in return.
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 1: Probably you can, Rusty, who knows. I'm terribly mixed up
• 1:41:11
  Speaker 1: in these strange words. I hardly know which way to
• 1:41:14
  Speaker 1: go to find home. Perhaps you can direct me. Yes,
• 1:41:19
  Speaker 1: I can do that easily. Thanks. That's one good turn
• 1:41:24
  Speaker 1: you can do me. Now for another. Is there any
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 1: river or stream near here that I can reach? If so,
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 1: I can go to it before Puma comes and then
• 1:41:33
  Speaker 1: wade down it to throw him off my scent. Why, yes,
• 1:41:38
  Speaker 1: there's a shallow brook only a mile from here. I
• 1:41:41
  Speaker 1: can take you to that. Which way shall I go
• 1:41:45
  Speaker 1: up or down? The brook? Go down it a couple
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 1: of miles until it runs in the stream where father
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 1: butleert to herd feet and the rushes this morning, the
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 1: place you started from when you ran the race with
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 1: young black buck. In that case, applied Whitetail. I think
• 1:42:02
  Speaker 1: I'll be going right away. I'm anxious to be off,
• 1:42:06
  Speaker 1: but it's a dreadful night outside. Hear it. Rain. Yes,
• 1:42:11
  Speaker 1: but it would be more dreadful to stay here until
• 1:42:14
  Speaker 1: great Horn in Puma appeared. Guma would kill me and
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 1: great Horn would pounce upon you. Yes, of course we
• 1:42:22
  Speaker 1: must go right away, rain or no rain. Bumper, who
• 1:42:27
  Speaker 1: had been listening to the conversation, hoped to the entrance
• 1:42:31
  Speaker 1: and then came back. If I'm any judge, he said,
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 1: I don't think you'll have such a wet trip. That
• 1:42:39
  Speaker 1: shower was the last. The clouds are breaking away, and
• 1:42:43
  Speaker 1: the moon will soon be out. Whitetail was instantly on
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 1: his feet and beat Rusty to the front, where the
• 1:42:50
  Speaker 1: two of them gazed up at the rain clouds now
• 1:42:53
  Speaker 1: growing thin and ragged. In places. They saw a star
• 1:42:57
  Speaker 1: twinkle in the east, and then another and another. The
• 1:43:01
  Speaker 1: storm was indeed over, and the night trip through the
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 1: woods would not be so disagreeable. I must be off
• 1:43:10
  Speaker 1: at once, Rusty, Whitehail said, Buma may be back any minute.
• 1:43:16
  Speaker 1: You can't start any too soon to suit me, white Tail,
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 1: for if Guma comes great Horn will be with him.
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 1: Come on, I'm ready, it seems to me, remarked Bumper.
• 1:43:29
  Speaker 1: You don't consider me at all. I'm not even invited
• 1:43:32
  Speaker 1: to go with you. We thought you prefer to stay
• 1:43:36
  Speaker 1: in this stroy camp, replied Whiteail. It's very comfortable here,
• 1:43:41
  Speaker 1: and you can hide under the spruce boughs. The white
• 1:43:45
  Speaker 1: rabbit sniffed. How long do you suppose it would take
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 1: Guma to find me, he asked, when he found you'd gone,
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 1: he'd eat me up instead. A rabbit makes only a
• 1:43:57
  Speaker 1: mouse bow for Puma. But it's better than nothing. No,
• 1:44:01
  Speaker 1: I'm going with you. So the three started forth, leaving
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 1: the shelter of the camp for the wet trail of
• 1:44:08
  Speaker 1: the woods. And how wet everything was. The trail was
• 1:44:13
  Speaker 1: soaked with water, and every leaf and bell was strucking
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 1: with moisture. Every bush they touched through a shower of
• 1:44:20
  Speaker 1: rain drops all over them. Rusty led the way, hopping
• 1:44:25
  Speaker 1: and flying from bush to bush, with Bumper following next,
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 1: and Whitetail bringing up the rear. Bumper was as familiar
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 1: with the woods as Rusty, and Whitetail really followed him,
• 1:44:38
  Speaker 1: although at times the white rabbit took short cuts for
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 1: narrow paths which the buck could not tread. It was
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 1: very quiet and solemn in the woods after the rain.
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 1: The stillness seemed intensified by the occasional splatter of water
• 1:44:54
  Speaker 1: as some overladen tree branch dipped its load and let
• 1:44:58
  Speaker 1: it fall through the ground. No birds or animals were abroad,
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 1: and they made half the distance without accident or alarm.
• 1:45:07
  Speaker 1: Then back of them came a fearful roar that startled
• 1:45:11
  Speaker 1: the echoes of the wild woods. It was Pumada mountain lion.
• 1:45:16
  Speaker 1: He's found We've escaped, cried Rusty. Oh do hurry, He'll
• 1:45:21
  Speaker 1: pick up your trail, and great horn will find me. Hurry, hurry,
• 1:45:27
  Speaker 1: wait a minute, exclaimed whitetail. Won't you find a hiding place, Rusty, Yes,
• 1:45:34
  Speaker 1: many of them. But I must show you the way
• 1:45:36
  Speaker 1: to the shadow brook. No, you tell me how to
• 1:45:40
  Speaker 1: find it, interrupted Whitetail. I can run much faster alone,
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 1: but straight ahead, Whitetail, then find a hiding place in
• 1:45:51
  Speaker 1: the bushes. Good Bye and thank you. Are you going
• 1:45:55
  Speaker 1: to leave me, whitetail asked Bumper, Yes, Bumper, for you
• 1:46:01
  Speaker 1: travel too slow for me. You must find a burrow
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 1: and run for it. There must be one around here. Yes,
• 1:46:09
  Speaker 1: there's a good one not far from here. But don't
• 1:46:11
  Speaker 1: you need me, no, Bumper, I can outrun you, and
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 1: if you come along, Puma may overtake me. Good Bye
• 1:46:19
  Speaker 1: and thank you. I'm off now. Bumper waited until Whitehail
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 1: was out of sight and hearing. Then he sought a
• 1:46:28
  Speaker 1: safe burrow and stood at the entrance to watch and listen.
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 1: Pretty soon he heard a crash in the bushes as
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 1: Puma came dashing along. Close behind him was great Horny owl,
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 1: flitting from tree to tree. I wonder where rust he is,
• 1:46:46
  Speaker 1: Great horn was saying, I don't see him anywhere. Neither
• 1:46:51
  Speaker 1: do I see white Tail roared back Booma, but I
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 1: smell him. I'm on the right trail. I wish I
• 1:46:59
  Speaker 1: could he smell Rusty. My eyes are good, but my
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 1: nose isn't as sharp as yours. Buma, I don't care
• 1:47:07
  Speaker 1: where Rusty is, was the reply. I want white Tail
• 1:47:12
  Speaker 1: and I'm going to catch him. This time. He can't
• 1:47:14
  Speaker 1: escape as he did before. They swept past Bumper and
• 1:47:19
  Speaker 1: made their way down the trail. The white rabbit sighed
• 1:47:22
  Speaker 1: and said, I do hope white Tail will escape and
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 1: Whiteail hoped so too. Meanwhile, he was running with all
• 1:47:32
  Speaker 1: his might. As soon as he had left his two friends,
• 1:47:35
  Speaker 1: he leaped through the bushes or over them, with his
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 1: head aimed straight for the brook. He heard the roar
• 1:47:42
  Speaker 1: of puma behind him, and this spurred him on to
• 1:47:45
  Speaker 1: greater speed. When he finally reached the shallow brook, he
• 1:47:50
  Speaker 1: waded in and rapidly followed it down toward its mouth,
• 1:47:54
  Speaker 1: where it joined the wider stream. When Buma reached a brook,
• 1:47:59
  Speaker 1: he was baffled. The sentient been following suddenly stopped. Which
• 1:48:04
  Speaker 1: way has he gone? He growled upward down. I'll go up,
• 1:48:09
  Speaker 1: great Horn, and you go down. If you see him,
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 1: hoot to me, and I'll come whom I crossed the
• 1:48:17
  Speaker 1: stream and ran up it on the opposite side, and
• 1:48:20
  Speaker 1: the great Horn flitted down it. Of course, Great Horn
• 1:48:24
  Speaker 1: found Whitehail. But what happened then will appear next end
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 1: of story twelve. Story thirteen of White Tail The Deer's
• 1:48:39
  Speaker 1: Adventures by George Ethelbert Walsh. This Liverfox recording is in
• 1:48:44
  Speaker 1: the public domain. Recording by phone, Whitehail hears unpleasant news.
• 1:48:52
  Speaker 1: Great Horn found Whitehail a long way down the stream,
• 1:48:56
  Speaker 1: but By that time, morning was dawning and the light
• 1:49:00
  Speaker 1: began to hurt the owl's eyes. He caught a glimpse
• 1:49:03
  Speaker 1: of something moving through the bushes and flew toward it,
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 1: for he could not in the early light see very far. Ah,
• 1:49:13
  Speaker 1: I found you, Whiteil, he cried, I knew it was you.
• 1:49:18
  Speaker 1: How did you know it, Great Horn, asked Whitetail. I
• 1:49:22
  Speaker 1: know you can't see very well in this light. I
• 1:49:25
  Speaker 1: don't believe you can see me, yet you only hear me,
• 1:49:30
  Speaker 1: de I dear, snapped Great Horn. I can see you
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 1: as well as you can see me. I don't believe it,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: replied white Tail. Can you see Rusty sitting on the
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 1: end of my antlers? Rusty, rusty? Is he there? Exclaimed
• 1:49:49
  Speaker 1: Great Horn excitedly. Now the thought of being so near
• 1:49:53
  Speaker 1: to his prey made him very hungry, and he flew
• 1:49:56
  Speaker 1: straight at Whitehill's head. This was what the buck wanted,
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: and when the owl was close enough, he swung his
• 1:50:04
  Speaker 1: antlers around swiftly and caught Great Horn on the end.
• 1:50:09
  Speaker 1: The blow was enough to knock the breath out of
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 1: the bird, and he fell with a plump in the bushes.
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 1: That's for betraying me to Puma, Whitetail said, now call
• 1:50:20
  Speaker 1: to him when you can get back your breath. I'm off,
• 1:50:24
  Speaker 1: and through the bushes he ran, leaving great horns, so
• 1:50:28
  Speaker 1: surprised and stunned that he couldn't call to Puma for
• 1:50:32
  Speaker 1: a long time. Whitetail had made good his escape. A
• 1:50:37
  Speaker 1: few yards through the woods, he came upon the other stream,
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 1: the Broad River, which he knew so well. He crossed
• 1:50:45
  Speaker 1: this and made his way up the other embankment. Then,
• 1:50:49
  Speaker 1: with the woods before him familiar to his eyes and nose,
• 1:50:53
  Speaker 1: he ran rapidly toward home. He had made his way
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 1: out of Puma's hunting and through the higher timberland to
• 1:51:00
  Speaker 1: his home. His appearance was hailed with delight by all
• 1:51:05
  Speaker 1: his friends. Oh, Whitehill, we thought you were dead, exclaimed
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 1: one dead. Hah, Why should you think that? He sniffed.
• 1:51:16
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck said you were He left you and
• 1:51:20
  Speaker 1: he was sure the dogs would catch you. He was
• 1:51:22
  Speaker 1: sorry for you, but you couldn't keep up with him,
• 1:51:25
  Speaker 1: and he didn't want to die because you couldn't run
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 1: as fast as he? What exclaimed white Tail as young
• 1:51:33
  Speaker 1: black Buck returned, and did he tell such a tale? Why, yes,
• 1:51:39
  Speaker 1: that's what he said. With a roar of rage at
• 1:51:42
  Speaker 1: this falsehood, Whitehail pushed his way into the middle of
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 1: the herd and stood face to face before Young black Buck.
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 1: You have been spreading more false stories about me, Young
• 1:51:55
  Speaker 1: black Buck, he said, after the way I saved you
• 1:51:59
  Speaker 1: from the doors, you lie about me. Young black Bucks
• 1:52:04
  Speaker 1: stood all a tremble at the sight of Whitetail. He
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 1: had truly believed that the dogs would catch him, and
• 1:52:11
  Speaker 1: he thought there would be no harm in telling a
• 1:52:14
  Speaker 1: story of his escape that would hurt Whitetail and help himself. Listen,
• 1:52:20
  Speaker 1: Whitetail added, swinging around and facing the herd. Listen to
• 1:52:26
  Speaker 1: a story of treachery. Young black Buck has lied to you,
• 1:52:30
  Speaker 1: and you must hear me. When he stumbled and sprained
• 1:52:34
  Speaker 1: his leg, I stayed with him until it healed. Then,
• 1:52:38
  Speaker 1: when the man hunters started the dogs on our trail,
• 1:52:42
  Speaker 1: we ran together until Young black Buck's weak leg crippled
• 1:52:45
  Speaker 1: him again. The dogs would have caught him, but I
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 1: waited for them, and when they saw me, I led
• 1:52:52
  Speaker 1: them off on my trail. Young black Buck escaped while
• 1:52:57
  Speaker 1: I led the dogs a merry chase. I he saved
• 1:53:00
  Speaker 1: his life, and he rewards me for it by lies,
• 1:53:04
  Speaker 1: nothing but lies. The commotion that followed these words was great,
• 1:53:10
  Speaker 1: and the herd gazed from one speaker to the other.
• 1:53:14
  Speaker 1: I challenge you to deny it, continued white Hill, facing
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 1: young black Buck. See he cannot deny it. He knows
• 1:53:23
  Speaker 1: it to be the truth. Young black Buck indeed looked guilty.
• 1:53:29
  Speaker 1: His limbs were trembling and his head drooping. For once
• 1:53:33
  Speaker 1: he had no ready story to explain his lies. To
• 1:53:38
  Speaker 1: punish you for it, young black Buck, I challenge you
• 1:53:41
  Speaker 1: to a fight, went on white Hill, now so enraged
• 1:53:46
  Speaker 1: that he wanted to punish his rival. It was then
• 1:53:50
  Speaker 1: that black Buck interfered, cease your quarreling over such petty things.
• 1:53:56
  Speaker 1: He said, there are greater things for the herd to
• 1:53:59
  Speaker 1: concen done this. What can be greater than a question
• 1:54:04
  Speaker 1: of honor? Interrupted Whitehail boldly. Your son has spread falsehoods
• 1:54:09
  Speaker 1: about me, and I challenge him to prove it by fighting.
• 1:54:14
  Speaker 1: And I tell you to cease your quarreling, added black Buck.
• 1:54:19
  Speaker 1: You may need your strength for a different kind of challenge.
• 1:54:23
  Speaker 1: Know you not what has happened? Whitehail looked mystified. Suddenly
• 1:54:29
  Speaker 1: it occurred to him that he hadn't seen Father Buck
• 1:54:32
  Speaker 1: or Mother Dear. They hadn't come forth to greet him.
• 1:54:36
  Speaker 1: Had anything serious happened to them? No, I don't know
• 1:54:41
  Speaker 1: what has happened, Whitehail admitted, I have been away and
• 1:54:45
  Speaker 1: know nothing. Then Listen replied black Buck, our leader has failed.
• 1:54:52
  Speaker 1: He stumbled in the chase and missed his footing. When
• 1:54:56
  Speaker 1: we crossed the brook, he failed to clear it. He
• 1:54:59
  Speaker 1: is no long longer our leader. He is old and broken.
• 1:55:03
  Speaker 1: Tomorrow we meet at the council tree to choose a
• 1:55:06
  Speaker 1: new leader. Whitehil stood, dumbfounded. Father Buck had been disgraced.
• 1:55:13
  Speaker 1: He had fallen and missed his footing. He had failed
• 1:55:17
  Speaker 1: to cross the brook in a single jump. He was
• 1:55:20
  Speaker 1: to be deposed as leader. It seemed incredible, and Whitehail
• 1:55:25
  Speaker 1: was on the point of saying so, when he remembered
• 1:55:28
  Speaker 1: the words of Father Buck and this prediction that some
• 1:55:31
  Speaker 1: day he would fail through old age and weakness. The
• 1:55:36
  Speaker 1: thing had happened then in his absence. Whitehail was glad
• 1:55:40
  Speaker 1: of that, for it would have been hard for him
• 1:55:42
  Speaker 1: to witness the leader's downfall. Without another word to black Buck,
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: he whirled around to hunt up Father Buck and Mother Dear.
• 1:55:52
  Speaker 1: He wanted the truth from their lips, and not from
• 1:55:55
  Speaker 1: one who found pleasure in it. The sneer in black
• 1:55:59
  Speaker 1: bucks were angered him. He found the two quietly resting
• 1:56:04
  Speaker 1: under a tree back of the herd, a little to
• 1:56:07
  Speaker 1: one side, as if they had already been cast out
• 1:56:10
  Speaker 1: and ignored by those who had so recently looked up
• 1:56:14
  Speaker 1: to them. Mother dear rose and ran to great her son.
• 1:56:19
  Speaker 1: It is well, Whitetail, that you've come back at this time,
• 1:56:23
  Speaker 1: she said quietly. You have heard the news. Yes, I've
• 1:56:28
  Speaker 1: heard it. It is true then that that, yes, my
• 1:56:34
  Speaker 1: son interrupted father Buck, I have led my last chase.
• 1:56:39
  Speaker 1: Never again will the herd follow me. What must come
• 1:56:43
  Speaker 1: to all of us at some time has befallen me.
• 1:56:47
  Speaker 1: There is nothing to regret one and all must face
• 1:56:50
  Speaker 1: it sooner or later. Why should we not accept it complacently?
• 1:56:56
  Speaker 1: Whitehill was surprised and yet pleased by the quiet acceptance.
• 1:57:01
  Speaker 1: Father Buck took of his downfall. It softened the load
• 1:57:05
  Speaker 1: that he was carrying in his own heart. I prepared
• 1:57:10
  Speaker 1: you for it, you remember, white Tail, The old leader continued. Well,
• 1:57:15
  Speaker 1: tomorrow they will choose a new leader. They will demand
• 1:57:19
  Speaker 1: that I step aside. But until then I'm leader and
• 1:57:24
  Speaker 1: no one shall dispute that right. He rose and shook
• 1:57:28
  Speaker 1: his huge antlered head, looking for all the world like
• 1:57:32
  Speaker 1: a leader, And when he bellowed an order, everyone started.
• 1:57:37
  Speaker 1: He was not yet deposed. In the next story, what
• 1:57:41
  Speaker 1: happened at the Council Tree will be told end of
• 1:57:46
  Speaker 1: story thirteen. Story fourteen of White Tail The Deer's Adventures
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 1: by George Ethelbert Walsh. This liberal recording is in the
• 1:58:01
  Speaker 1: public domain. Recording by Voe choosing a new leader. The
• 1:58:09
  Speaker 1: call for a meeting at the Council Tree was issued
• 1:58:12
  Speaker 1: to the herd by Father Buck himself. It was his
• 1:58:16
  Speaker 1: duty to do this, for the law of the herd
• 1:58:19
  Speaker 1: is that a leader is still in command, and this
• 1:58:23
  Speaker 1: word must be obeyed until he has been deposed and
• 1:58:27
  Speaker 1: another chosen. Whitehail had been twice at the Council Tree before,
• 1:58:33
  Speaker 1: but never on such a momentous occasion as this. His
• 1:58:37
  Speaker 1: own initiation into the secrets of the council was nothing
• 1:58:41
  Speaker 1: compared to the choosing of a new leader. He felt
• 1:58:44
  Speaker 1: the weight of responsibility that was laid upon him, for
• 1:58:48
  Speaker 1: the time had come for him to succeed his father
• 1:58:51
  Speaker 1: or fail forever. The choosing of a leader did not
• 1:58:56
  Speaker 1: happen often. Once in a lifetime was the average. Unless
• 1:59:00
  Speaker 1: something happened to a leader to cut him down accidentally
• 1:59:04
  Speaker 1: in the prime of his life, or puma or timber
• 1:59:07
  Speaker 1: pulled him down in the chase, a successor was chosen
• 1:59:11
  Speaker 1: until he grew too weak and decrepit to lead. The
• 1:59:15
  Speaker 1: event was therefore an important one and long to be
• 1:59:19
  Speaker 1: remembered by those who took part in it. Father Buck
• 1:59:23
  Speaker 1: had led the herd for so many seasons that none
• 1:59:26
  Speaker 1: but the older ones could remember when he was not
• 1:59:29
  Speaker 1: their leader. In all those days and seasons, he had
• 1:59:33
  Speaker 1: been shrewd, wise and courageous, so that few accidents had
• 1:59:38
  Speaker 1: happened to any of their dear His had been the
• 1:59:41
  Speaker 1: most successful leadership that any could recall. When they assembled
• 1:59:46
  Speaker 1: at the council tree, father Buck was there ahead of them,
• 1:59:51
  Speaker 1: standing lonely and aloof in the place of honor under
• 1:59:54
  Speaker 1: the big tree. His lordly head, with its great spread
• 1:59:59
  Speaker 1: of antlers, was held high, so that some of those
• 2:00:02
  Speaker 1: who had come to scoff and laugh at him felt
• 2:00:05
  Speaker 1: a sudden awe. There was none of the meekness and
• 2:00:09
  Speaker 1: humility of a fallen leader in his attitude. Black Buck
• 2:00:14
  Speaker 1: and the other older bucks, who had long years before
• 2:00:18
  Speaker 1: contended with father Buck for leadership, were impressed by his looks,
• 2:00:23
  Speaker 1: and they took their places in the semicircle in uneasy silence.
• 2:00:28
  Speaker 1: Suppose Father Buck should challenge again for leadership despite his
• 2:00:33
  Speaker 1: failure of the previous day. Could any of them win
• 2:00:37
  Speaker 1: in a mighty battle with him? They too were growing old,
• 2:00:41
  Speaker 1: and their limbs and eyes were not as strong and
• 2:00:45
  Speaker 1: sure as when they were young. You know the law
• 2:00:49
  Speaker 1: of the herd and of my people, father Buck announced,
• 2:00:53
  Speaker 1: when all the deer were there yesterday, I failed you.
• 2:00:58
  Speaker 1: It was the first time since I became your leader.
• 2:01:01
  Speaker 1: Now the call is for a new leader unless I
• 2:01:05
  Speaker 1: challenge for it again and win it by my might.
• 2:01:09
  Speaker 1: He swung his ared head around at the half circle
• 2:01:13
  Speaker 1: of older bucks. There was a menace and challenge in
• 2:01:17
  Speaker 1: the beautiful eyes. We want a new leader, bellowed black
• 2:01:22
  Speaker 1: Buck angrily. You can't lead us again, Father Buck. You
• 2:01:26
  Speaker 1: have failed in the chase twice. You failed within a day.
• 2:01:31
  Speaker 1: A new leader is what we demand. There was a
• 2:01:35
  Speaker 1: chorus of approvals, and black Buck gained courage by the
• 2:01:39
  Speaker 1: backing his words received, but Father Buck cut him off
• 2:01:43
  Speaker 1: short be silent. He said, I am still leader, and
• 2:01:49
  Speaker 1: my word is law. If I choose to challenge again,
• 2:01:53
  Speaker 1: the right is mine. It is the law of the
• 2:01:57
  Speaker 1: herd who speaks otherwise. There was no disputing this. The
• 2:02:03
  Speaker 1: law of the herd was very simple, and it had
• 2:02:06
  Speaker 1: to be obeyed. Even black Buck knew this, and if
• 2:02:11
  Speaker 1: he chose, Father Buck could challenge and prove his right
• 2:02:14
  Speaker 1: to remain leader if he proved himself better than all others.
• 2:02:20
  Speaker 1: If you challenge again, began black Buck, you must do
• 2:02:24
  Speaker 1: battle with the young bucks as well as the others.
• 2:02:27
  Speaker 1: That's the law, isn't it, it is replied father Buck.
• 2:02:33
  Speaker 1: Young and old may meet the challenger, but I first
• 2:02:37
  Speaker 1: issue my challenge to the older ones. That is my right.
• 2:02:42
  Speaker 1: I may be old and weak, my eyes may be
• 2:02:45
  Speaker 1: growing dim, and my legs less active and sure. But
• 2:02:49
  Speaker 1: I am still leader, and I issued a first challenge.
• 2:02:54
  Speaker 1: All you bucks more than three seasons old, step forth.
• 2:02:59
  Speaker 1: It is to you you I issue his challenge. Come
• 2:03:02
  Speaker 1: and accept it. I will fight for the leadership. An
• 2:03:07
  Speaker 1: uneasy thrill swept the multitude. Each turned to look the
• 2:03:12
  Speaker 1: other in the eye. Who would accept father Buck's challenge?
• 2:03:16
  Speaker 1: Black Buck hesitated, measuring the sturdy limbs of the leader
• 2:03:21
  Speaker 1: with his own, and comparing the thick set neck and
• 2:03:24
  Speaker 1: head of antlers with those of his immediate neighbors, there
• 2:03:29
  Speaker 1: was not one qualified to enter the lists and hope
• 2:03:33
  Speaker 1: to carry off the honors. I hear no one shouted,
• 2:03:38
  Speaker 1: Father Buck. The challenge is not accepted. So be it.
• 2:03:43
  Speaker 1: Then we come to the second challenge. Here too, the
• 2:03:47
  Speaker 1: law gives me the right to fight with the younger
• 2:03:50
  Speaker 1: bucks for leadership. We have many of them, young sturdy,
• 2:03:55
  Speaker 1: bright eyed offsprings of ours, who will some day win
• 2:03:59
  Speaker 1: honors in the chin. They have eyes as keen as
• 2:04:02
  Speaker 1: ours were at one time, limbs as straight and strong,
• 2:04:08
  Speaker 1: minds as active and intelligent. We have taught them the
• 2:04:12
  Speaker 1: waves of the woods, and they come to the council
• 2:04:15
  Speaker 1: tree to day to prove their rights. He stopped and
• 2:04:20
  Speaker 1: gazed around at the big assembly. His words and commanding
• 2:04:24
  Speaker 1: figure had made even Fatherbook's worst enemies respectful. The outcome
• 2:04:30
  Speaker 1: of the meeting was still uncertain and wrapped in mystery. Therefore,
• 2:04:37
  Speaker 1: the leader continued, after a pause, it is for them
• 2:04:41
  Speaker 1: to decide the leadership. I have no wish to challenge them.
• 2:04:46
  Speaker 1: I could not conquer them. If I chose, it shall
• 2:04:49
  Speaker 1: be as stay aside. Who of the younger ones challenges
• 2:04:53
  Speaker 1: for the high honor of leader to take my place?
• 2:04:58
  Speaker 1: A thrill of excitement poss around for the crucial moment
• 2:05:02
  Speaker 1: had now arrived. Father Buck did not intend to fight
• 2:05:06
  Speaker 1: to retain the leadership. There was an instant pause in
• 2:05:10
  Speaker 1: which he could have heard a twig snap, and then
• 2:05:13
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck, with head held high, stepped to the
• 2:05:17
  Speaker 1: center of the semicircle. He trotted gracefully around several times,
• 2:05:23
  Speaker 1: and then halted before Father Buck. I, young black Buck,
• 2:05:29
  Speaker 1: son of black Buck of Dismal Swamp, challenge for the leadership.
• 2:05:35
  Speaker 1: I shall prove my right to it by the one
• 2:05:37
  Speaker 1: test that is required by the law of the herd,
• 2:05:40
  Speaker 1: a battle with all comers. It is well, young black Buck,
• 2:05:46
  Speaker 1: replied Father Buck, looking at the haughty eyes of the challenger.
• 2:05:51
  Speaker 1: You have been the first to challenge. Is there any other?
• 2:05:56
  Speaker 1: The aged leader turned his head just a little so
• 2:06:00
  Speaker 1: that his eyes could rest upon Whitehail, But it did
• 2:06:03
  Speaker 1: not need this luck to inspire his son. Whitehail had
• 2:06:08
  Speaker 1: already started forward, and with no less pride and dignity
• 2:06:12
  Speaker 1: than Young black Buck. He trotted into the center of
• 2:06:15
  Speaker 1: the clearing. I Whitehail, son of your great leader and
• 2:06:21
  Speaker 1: of mother dear, accept the challenge. As I have proved
• 2:06:25
  Speaker 1: greater than young black Buck in the chase, in the
• 2:06:28
  Speaker 1: long jump, and in other ways, I shall prove to
• 2:06:32
  Speaker 1: you in combat that I am better fitted to lead
• 2:06:36
  Speaker 1: the herd than he. The excitement reached a climax when
• 2:06:41
  Speaker 1: Whitehil had finished his challenge, But Father Buck raised his
• 2:06:45
  Speaker 1: head again to speak, who next challenges? The law of
• 2:06:50
  Speaker 1: the herd permits any one under three seasons who speaks.
• 2:06:56
  Speaker 1: There was no answer, and no one stepped forward. The
• 2:07:00
  Speaker 1: aged leader cast his eyes slowly around the crowd to
• 2:07:04
  Speaker 1: make sure he had missed none, and then returned to
• 2:07:08
  Speaker 1: the two challengers. So be it, he said, The leadership
• 2:07:14
  Speaker 1: shall be settled between these two, White Tail and Young
• 2:07:18
  Speaker 1: black Buck. The herd must accept the victor as their leader.
• 2:07:24
  Speaker 1: In the next story will come the combat end of
• 2:07:29
  Speaker 1: story fourteen. Story fifteen of White Tail The Deer's Adventures
• 2:07:40
  Speaker 1: by George Eeselbert Walsh. This Liverfox recording is in the
• 2:07:44
  Speaker 1: public domain. The great Combat Now, the law of the
• 2:07:50
  Speaker 1: Herd says that the challengers for leadership shall fight until
• 2:07:54
  Speaker 1: one or the other is victor. If it takes hours,
• 2:07:58
  Speaker 1: or days or week. It must continue until one is
• 2:08:02
  Speaker 1: beaten and can no longer fight. The rules are simple.
• 2:08:07
  Speaker 1: He must prove himself the victor by strength, cunning, intelligence, trickery,
• 2:08:14
  Speaker 1: or any other way. The leader must be supreme, so
• 2:08:18
  Speaker 1: that none again dare challenge his authority. It is always
• 2:08:23
  Speaker 1: a battle royale in the woods. It never ends in
• 2:08:26
  Speaker 1: a draw, except in those few sad but rare cases
• 2:08:31
  Speaker 1: when horns and antlers get interlocked and neither can pull
• 2:08:35
  Speaker 1: away until both starve. Then a new challenge must be
• 2:08:39
  Speaker 1: issued and another leader chosen. Of this, both Whitehail and
• 2:08:45
  Speaker 1: young black Buck knew, and above all they sought to
• 2:08:48
  Speaker 1: keep their horns and antlers from becoming interlocked. It availed
• 2:08:53
  Speaker 1: the victor little to conquer if he starved with the vanquished.
• 2:08:59
  Speaker 1: When they spread toward each other with lowered heads, they
• 2:09:02
  Speaker 1: kept a wary eye out for the other's twisted antlers.
• 2:09:07
  Speaker 1: It was a light charge at first, a mere test
• 2:09:10
  Speaker 1: of skill and strength. But their heads came together with
• 2:09:14
  Speaker 1: a shock that sounded throughout the woods. Then they withdrew
• 2:09:19
  Speaker 1: and trotted around each other, waiting for a favorable opening.
• 2:09:24
  Speaker 1: Both knew that one blow against the side or limbs
• 2:09:28
  Speaker 1: of the other would cripple his antagonists, so the fight
• 2:09:31
  Speaker 1: would be short. After circling whitetail three times, Young black
• 2:09:37
  Speaker 1: Buck launched his head straight for the flanks of his enemy,
• 2:09:41
  Speaker 1: and for a moment it looked as if he would
• 2:09:43
  Speaker 1: gain a great advantage, But at the critical instant, Whitehail
• 2:09:47
  Speaker 1: turned and met the charge head on the clash of
• 2:09:51
  Speaker 1: antlers was terrific, but neither went down. Next, they butted
• 2:09:57
  Speaker 1: in short, sharp swings of the head, slashing, cutting, and
• 2:10:01
  Speaker 1: pounding with all their might. It was like a close
• 2:10:05
  Speaker 1: in sparring match between two skilled boxers, each waiting for
• 2:10:10
  Speaker 1: an opening to deliver a fatal blow. But both were
• 2:10:14
  Speaker 1: as swift in defense as in offense. They withdrew from
• 2:10:19
  Speaker 1: the conflict and trotted around each other once more. This
• 2:10:23
  Speaker 1: time Whitehail led the attack. Rearing on his hind legs,
• 2:10:28
  Speaker 1: he brought all the weight of his body in a
• 2:10:31
  Speaker 1: downward blow that made Young black Buck shake and tremble
• 2:10:35
  Speaker 1: for a moment. Neither could recover from the terrible shock.
• 2:10:40
  Speaker 1: So swift and powerful had the blow been. A thrill
• 2:10:44
  Speaker 1: of excitement went through the assembled herd. Well done, exclaimed
• 2:10:49
  Speaker 1: Father Buck, but nought better than my son can do,
• 2:10:54
  Speaker 1: echoed black Buck. To prove the truth of his father's words,
• 2:10:59
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck turned a complete circle, suddenly reared, and
• 2:11:04
  Speaker 1: brought his head down in another terrific blow. Whitehail received it,
• 2:11:09
  Speaker 1: and for a time their horns and antlers became locked.
• 2:11:13
  Speaker 1: They pulled and jerked, pushed and twisted all over the
• 2:11:17
  Speaker 1: open space to free their heads. With a sudden snap,
• 2:11:22
  Speaker 1: the antlers loosened and they were free once more. The
• 2:11:27
  Speaker 1: battle grew more vigorous. Now that the two combatants were
• 2:11:31
  Speaker 1: warmed to the fray, they began to put more speed
• 2:11:34
  Speaker 1: in their motions and more force in their blows. Confident
• 2:11:39
  Speaker 1: that neither one could take advantage of the other, they
• 2:11:43
  Speaker 1: fell back to hard hitting. In this strength counted, and
• 2:11:48
  Speaker 1: it was soon seen that they were pretty evenly matched.
• 2:11:52
  Speaker 1: Again and again they received and administered punishment. It may
• 2:11:58
  Speaker 1: have seemed cruel to one kno acquainted with the laws
• 2:12:01
  Speaker 1: of the wild deer, but not so to the spectators
• 2:12:05
  Speaker 1: nor to the fighters. The leadership had to be decided
• 2:12:09
  Speaker 1: in this manner, and either combatant had the right to
• 2:12:13
  Speaker 1: stop it by yielding to the other. But neither Whitehail
• 2:12:17
  Speaker 1: nor Young black Buck had any intention of doing this.
• 2:12:22
  Speaker 1: The blood of the older ones was warmed by the sight.
• 2:12:26
  Speaker 1: Father Buck recalled the day when he fought black Buck
• 2:12:30
  Speaker 1: for leadership, and he was proud of a son now
• 2:12:33
  Speaker 1: fighting over again his own battles. Even Mother dear, tender hearted,
• 2:12:39
  Speaker 1: as she was admired and applauded Whitehail, she knew the battle,
• 2:12:45
  Speaker 1: once decided in his favor, would never have to be repeated.
• 2:12:50
  Speaker 1: Whitehill suddenly delivered a crushing blow upon his enemy's head
• 2:12:55
  Speaker 1: that brought him to his knees. For an instant, everyone
• 2:12:59
  Speaker 1: held his breath, but before Whitehail could take advantage of
• 2:13:03
  Speaker 1: it with another blow, he slipped and nearly fell to
• 2:13:07
  Speaker 1: his own knees. Young black Buck was up in an
• 2:13:10
  Speaker 1: instant and made a wild rush for his adversary. Whitehail
• 2:13:15
  Speaker 1: was prepared and received it steadily. The combat continued for
• 2:13:21
  Speaker 1: an hour, two hours, three hours, until the flanks of
• 2:13:25
  Speaker 1: both were covered with foam, and still they butted and
• 2:13:30
  Speaker 1: bucked and fought with all their might. Their breath was
• 2:13:35
  Speaker 1: coming in short gasps and their eyes flashing defiance. All
• 2:13:41
  Speaker 1: that morning. The fight continued with slight intervals for rest,
• 2:13:46
  Speaker 1: then they returned to it each more determined than ever
• 2:13:50
  Speaker 1: to defeat his rival, Young black Buck soon showed signs
• 2:13:54
  Speaker 1: of weakening, and his father, noticing it, called out let
• 2:14:00
  Speaker 1: rest until another day. They have done enough to day. No, No,
• 2:14:06
  Speaker 1: shouted a dozen voices. The combat must go on, replied
• 2:14:12
  Speaker 1: father Buck. Not until they both ask for a rest.
• 2:14:15
  Speaker 1: Can it stop? It was renewed with greater vigor. Growing
• 2:14:21
  Speaker 1: weak by the strain, they fell more often to their knees.
• 2:14:26
  Speaker 1: The crashing of horns in mighty blows could no longer
• 2:14:29
  Speaker 1: be resisted so easily. They were longer in recovering from
• 2:14:34
  Speaker 1: the blows and slower in getting to their feet. Shall
• 2:14:39
  Speaker 1: we put it off until another day, asked Young black Buck,
• 2:14:43
  Speaker 1: suddenly to his arrival. No, it shall be settled to day,
• 2:14:48
  Speaker 1: replied Whitehail, breathing hard. I can fight for weeks. Yet
• 2:14:54
  Speaker 1: I remember your lies about me, young black Buck. I
• 2:14:58
  Speaker 1: recall your treachery in the woods. I think of how
• 2:15:02
  Speaker 1: you lost me in dismal swamp. So I might be disgraced,
• 2:15:07
  Speaker 1: and now you shall be punished for them. I shall
• 2:15:11
  Speaker 1: fight you until you can't get up again. That will
• 2:15:15
  Speaker 1: never happen, white Tail, You can never do that. But
• 2:15:19
  Speaker 1: this boast was hard to make good. Young black Buck
• 2:15:23
  Speaker 1: was showing weariness. Again and again he stumbled and fell
• 2:15:28
  Speaker 1: to his knees, and each time Whitehail sprang at him
• 2:15:33
  Speaker 1: and delivered a series of mighty blows with his head. Once,
• 2:15:38
  Speaker 1: young black Buck failed to get quickly back to his feet,
• 2:15:42
  Speaker 1: and Whitehill rushed him with all the speed and power
• 2:15:46
  Speaker 1: he could summon. He delivered a crushing blow and knocked
• 2:15:50
  Speaker 1: his rival down until all four legs were doubled up
• 2:15:54
  Speaker 1: under him. Whitehail stood over him. Call me leader, He snorted,
• 2:16:02
  Speaker 1: never grunted Young black Buck and tried to rise. Whitehill
• 2:16:07
  Speaker 1: knocked him flat again. Before he could rise, Call me leader,
• 2:16:13
  Speaker 1: he challenged again, never came a fainter cry. Again Whitehail
• 2:16:20
  Speaker 1: flattened him out and issued the challenge the third time,
• 2:16:25
  Speaker 1: and once more. Black Buck refused. Four times, Whitehill flattened
• 2:16:31
  Speaker 1: him on the ground, and the fifth time Young black
• 2:16:34
  Speaker 1: Buck could not rise. Call me Leader, There was no response.
• 2:16:42
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck was too weak to answer. Whitehill stood
• 2:16:47
  Speaker 1: over him three times. Young black Buck tried to rise,
• 2:16:52
  Speaker 1: but fell back. He was too weak to respond to
• 2:16:55
  Speaker 1: the challenge or to get to his feet. The battle
• 2:16:59
  Speaker 1: was over. Whitehill was victor who challenges my leadership. Now,
• 2:17:06
  Speaker 1: Whitehill bellowed, glaring around, and none replied. Their very silence
• 2:17:13
  Speaker 1: made him their choice. In the next story, Whitehill succeeds
• 2:17:18
  Speaker 1: his father and becomes leader of the herd. End of
• 2:17:23
  Speaker 1: story fifteen. Story sixteen of Whitehill The Deer's Adventures by
• 2:17:34
  Speaker 1: George Ethelbert Walsh. This Liverpook's recording is in the public domain.
• 2:17:39
  Speaker 1: Recording by phone. Whitehill made leader of the herd by
• 2:17:46
  Speaker 1: defeating young black Buck in combat. Whitehill was, according to
• 2:17:51
  Speaker 1: the law of the herd, chosen leader until another should
• 2:17:55
  Speaker 1: grow up and displace him. The decision on the battlefield
• 2:18:00
  Speaker 1: not be changed or altered. Even black Buck and his
• 2:18:04
  Speaker 1: son recognized this, and without protest, they permitted father Buck
• 2:18:09
  Speaker 1: to complete the ceremony. The law of the herd has
• 2:18:13
  Speaker 1: been vindicated, he said, after Whitehail had trotted around the
• 2:18:18
  Speaker 1: vast circle and challenged in vain any other antagonist. Whitetail
• 2:18:24
  Speaker 1: shall henceforth be your leader. To him, obedience shall be given,
• 2:18:30
  Speaker 1: and any who refuses shall be driven into exile. If
• 2:18:34
  Speaker 1: there is any opposition, it must be stated. Now black
• 2:18:39
  Speaker 1: Buck's wicked eyes flashed angrily. He was doubly disappointed that
• 2:18:44
  Speaker 1: his son had failed for his own defeat years before,
• 2:18:48
  Speaker 1: came back to torment him. Young black Buck was too
• 2:18:52
  Speaker 1: exhausted to speak, and if there was any protest, it
• 2:18:56
  Speaker 1: had to come from his father. Young black Buck, have
• 2:19:00
  Speaker 1: you anything to say? Continued Father Buck, turning to the
• 2:19:04
  Speaker 1: defeated young black Buck, shook his head wearily. There was
• 2:19:09
  Speaker 1: no fight left in him. You promise to obey the
• 2:19:14
  Speaker 1: new leader again. The weary shaking of the hand followed
• 2:19:18
  Speaker 1: by is sign as the vanquished dropped down and closed
• 2:19:22
  Speaker 1: his eyes. And you, black Buck of dismal Swamp, I
• 2:19:29
  Speaker 1: will follow and obey the leader. As I followed and
• 2:19:32
  Speaker 1: obeyed you, Father Buck, was the answer. There was nothing
• 2:19:36
  Speaker 1: else for me to do. I submit to the law.
• 2:19:41
  Speaker 1: Father Buck turned to Whitehail, whose distended nostrils and flashing
• 2:19:45
  Speaker 1: eyes indicated that he was still ready to fight for
• 2:19:49
  Speaker 1: his honor. The eyes of father and son met an
• 2:19:53
  Speaker 1: instant in an exchange of pride and happiness. It is well, then,
• 2:20:00
  Speaker 1: continued the ex leader white Tail, shall henceforth be the
• 2:20:04
  Speaker 1: head of the herd. I go back to my place
• 2:20:07
  Speaker 1: among the older bucks to follow. A certain wistfulness crept
• 2:20:12
  Speaker 1: into his voice and eyes it was hard to yield
• 2:20:16
  Speaker 1: the proud position, to hand over the burdens and glory
• 2:20:20
  Speaker 1: of leader to another. None could do it without a
• 2:20:24
  Speaker 1: certain amount of regret, not even though the successor was
• 2:20:28
  Speaker 1: his own son. I have led you many many seasons,
• 2:20:34
  Speaker 1: continued father Buck, and always with success. Puma and Timber
• 2:20:40
  Speaker 1: have never raided the herd in my time. We have
• 2:20:43
  Speaker 1: foiled and deceived them, finding new pasture fields where they
• 2:20:47
  Speaker 1: could not come. We have been safe from Loop the
• 2:20:51
  Speaker 1: lynx and Sneaky the gray wolf. I have fought them both,
• 2:20:56
  Speaker 1: holding them at bay with my mighty horns. And once
• 2:20:59
  Speaker 1: I remember it was a hard fought, desperate battle with Sneaky,
• 2:21:04
  Speaker 1: But before he could call his bag, the herd had escaped,
• 2:21:08
  Speaker 1: and I fled from him on the wind. He paused
• 2:21:12
  Speaker 1: a moment, swinging his head proudly from side to side.
• 2:21:17
  Speaker 1: And our pasture fields have always been rich and sufficient,
• 2:21:21
  Speaker 1: he continued. I have led you where the food was plentiful,
• 2:21:26
  Speaker 1: even in the depths of winter, in snow and rain,
• 2:21:30
  Speaker 1: we have fared well. Our fawns and doughs have been safe.
• 2:21:35
  Speaker 1: Not one has been lost through bad leadership. We have
• 2:21:39
  Speaker 1: multiplied and grown strong. To day we stand first among
• 2:21:44
  Speaker 1: the great herds of the Timberland. May we continue to
• 2:21:47
  Speaker 1: grow and thrive under a new leader. With his farewell
• 2:21:53
  Speaker 1: address finished, Father Buck stepped from under the council tree,
• 2:21:57
  Speaker 1: and White Tail, knowing that he was expected to assume control,
• 2:22:02
  Speaker 1: tottered up to take his place. Some noticed that as
• 2:22:07
  Speaker 1: he passed Father Buck, he was taller and stronger in
• 2:22:11
  Speaker 1: limb than the ex leader. The tips of his antlers
• 2:22:15
  Speaker 1: towered a full foot higher than those of Father Buck.
• 2:22:19
  Speaker 1: Even his enemies noticed this and were satisfied that he
• 2:22:23
  Speaker 1: would prove a good leader. Father Buck has spoken well,
• 2:22:29
  Speaker 1: Whitehaill began as he glanced proudly around at the herd.
• 2:22:34
  Speaker 1: His leadership has been successful, and I shall make it
• 2:22:38
  Speaker 1: more so. If I fail you, may I fall in
• 2:22:41
  Speaker 1: the chase and break my neck. If I show weakness
• 2:22:45
  Speaker 1: or cowardice, may Booma or timber Wolf pull me down
• 2:22:49
  Speaker 1: and eat out my heart. If I show lack of
• 2:22:52
  Speaker 1: wisdom and justice, may loop the lynx or sneaky trip
• 2:22:56
  Speaker 1: me and devour me. I shall be your leader, and
• 2:23:00
  Speaker 1: next to me. He stopped and glanced from one to another.
• 2:23:06
  Speaker 1: He had the right to choose the one next to
• 2:23:08
  Speaker 1: him in power, one who would lead the herd if
• 2:23:11
  Speaker 1: he were sick or away, and next to me in authority,
• 2:23:16
  Speaker 1: He added, comes, young black Buck. I have no ill
• 2:23:20
  Speaker 1: will for him. The past must be forgotten. All I
• 2:23:25
  Speaker 1: ask from him is loyalty and support. The safety of
• 2:23:28
  Speaker 1: the herd must always be his first thought. He must
• 2:23:33
  Speaker 1: give his life if necessary, to protect the doe and
• 2:23:36
  Speaker 1: fawns in my absence. Do you promise this, young black Buck?
• 2:23:42
  Speaker 1: Surprised by this honor thrust so unexpectedly upon him, young
• 2:23:47
  Speaker 1: black Buck opened his weary eyes and jumped to his feet.
• 2:23:51
  Speaker 1: He trotted into the circle and once more held his
• 2:23:54
  Speaker 1: head high white jail. He began in a trembling vae,
• 2:24:01
  Speaker 1: I don't deserve this, but if you ask it, I
• 2:24:04
  Speaker 1: shall accept. I pledge loyalty and friendship. I shall make
• 2:24:09
  Speaker 1: it the law of my life to support your leadership
• 2:24:12
  Speaker 1: and to do all I can for the herd. Is
• 2:24:15
  Speaker 1: that enough? It is all I can ask, Young black
• 2:24:19
  Speaker 1: Buck answered, whitetail. Now under the council tree, we pledge
• 2:24:25
  Speaker 1: ourselves to the service of the herd and to each
• 2:24:28
  Speaker 1: other's support. Let it be understood that when I am away,
• 2:24:33
  Speaker 1: Young black Buck shall be in command, and it is
• 2:24:36
  Speaker 1: the duty of everyone to follow and obey him. It
• 2:24:40
  Speaker 1: is so agreed. The council is now finished. The meeting
• 2:24:46
  Speaker 1: immediately broke up, and the deer and bucks mingled together
• 2:24:50
  Speaker 1: to congratulate the new leaders. For the council had ended happily,
• 2:24:54
  Speaker 1: and there was no bitter feeling carried away. The older
• 2:24:58
  Speaker 1: ones related to the young one's stories of other similar
• 2:25:02
  Speaker 1: meetings under the council tree, and the latter listened eagerly
• 2:25:07
  Speaker 1: to these tales. Father Buck and Mother Dear withdrew silently,
• 2:25:13
  Speaker 1: leaving White Tail in command, with the whole herd crowding
• 2:25:17
  Speaker 1: around him to flutter and congratulate. There was a new
• 2:25:21
  Speaker 1: spring in the ex leader's steps as he trotted away,
• 2:25:25
  Speaker 1: and Mother Dear, walking along by his side, noticed it.
• 2:25:31
  Speaker 1: You do not act like a fallen leader, she said, smiling.
• 2:25:36
  Speaker 1: I haven't seen you walk so lightly and happily for
• 2:25:39
  Speaker 1: a long time. The fallen leader is not always to
• 2:25:43
  Speaker 1: be pitied, my dear. Father Buck replied, The greatest thing
• 2:25:48
  Speaker 1: he can do is to lead his people successfully, and
• 2:25:51
  Speaker 1: the next greatest thing is the rearest son to take
• 2:25:55
  Speaker 1: his place. Have I not done? Both Mother Dear nod
• 2:26:00
  Speaker 1: and smiled. Father Buck turned to her and affectionately licked
• 2:26:04
  Speaker 1: her neck. And the greatest thing you could do, he added,
• 2:26:10
  Speaker 1: is to train your son so that he is worthy
• 2:26:12
  Speaker 1: to lead. I am proud of Whitehail, and still prouder
• 2:26:16
  Speaker 1: of you, mother, dear. He is your son. A little later,
• 2:26:22
  Speaker 1: Whitehail found them together in the woods, talking and smiling,
• 2:26:27
  Speaker 1: and so happy in the possession of each other's love
• 2:26:30
  Speaker 1: that neither seemed to regret the loss of authority, and Whitehill,
• 2:26:35
  Speaker 1: watching them, said to himself, the honor of being leader
• 2:26:40
  Speaker 1: of the herd is not all mine. I owe much
• 2:26:43
  Speaker 1: of it to them. They have trained me, and taught me,
• 2:26:47
  Speaker 1: and suffered for me that I might succeed. I shall
• 2:26:51
  Speaker 1: never forget that. And to the end of his days,
• 2:26:55
  Speaker 1: which were many, Whitehill never forgot that to have good
• 2:27:00
  Speaker 1: parents was greater even than to be the leader of
• 2:27:03
  Speaker 1: the herd. The next story in the Twilight series is
• 2:27:08
  Speaker 1: entitled Washer the Raccoon end of Story sixteen recording by phone.
• 2:27:16
  Speaker 1: End of White Tailed the Deer's Adventures by George A.
• 2:27:20
  Speaker 1: Gilbert Walsh