Deer Hunting At Dexter

DEER HUNTING AT DEXTER

Letter from an Army Officer in 1833. 

BURNING WILD GRASS

And the Apparition of an Indian Chief near Dexter.

The following is a continuation of the letter from an army officer written in Dexter in 1833, the first of which was published yesterday.

"Tired alike with walking and vexation, and parched with thirst, (I had neither eaten nor drunk since breakfast, and it was now nightfall,) I advanced to the only shanty near, and knocked at the door. There was no answer, and I shook it violently. A rush bottomed chair rattled, and a cat, the solitary occupant, sprang out through a broken window. I soon found my way, however, to the dilapidated trunk of a large sycamore tree near, which formed the top of a well, and drawing up a moss covered bucket, I placed my lips to the rusty iron bound brim and took a draught, with which the most delicious chateau, margaux were but vile vin du pays in comparison. I can remember but one drink in my life before to compare with it, and that was from a similar goblet, after other lips than mine had hallowed the brim. A few moments after a lad rode into the yard with the object of my pursuit, whose bridle had been broken to pieces in the effort of several men to catch him a mile or two off. I past mounted in a moment, and regained my lodging in an hour; when I found that the adventure of the day had not impaired my relish for a supper of fresh pike and white fish, just smoking on the table.

The range of hills which traversed the peninsula longitudinally near here, though never, I believe, more than a 150 feet high, are said by some to constitute the most elevated part of Michigan, as they abound in game, and consist altogether of oak openings, you can conceive of nothing more animating than to gallop over them on horseback. I was out again among them yesterday; and having a pocket compass and a map of the county with me, I ventured to leave the trails that wind among the hollows and scamper over the hills as my fancy led me.A large flock of grouse rose almost from beneath horse's feet as I topped the first slight eminence; and then, just as the animal was recovering the flurry into which the rushing sound of their wings threw him, a tall broad antlered back, the largest I ever saw, sprang from a small covert, and bounded through the wide forest glades. Away too, I went - the feeling was irresistible - I could see the fellow leaping as if he had wings over the rolling land, and the clear bracing atmosphere had given spirits to my horse, that sent us ahead like one and the same animal. In spite of the deer's prodigious jumps which were as high as they were long, I had decidedly gained on him, when on coming to the brow of a steep hill, he dashed down the side and was far away over another before my less agile horse could descend the first. I saw two more deer, besides several flocks of' grouse, during my morning's ride. Singularly enough, this was the only time that I had moved a mile without a gun since I left New York, and it was the only opportunity I have had to use one to advantage. If DerFreySchutz were in this region, I should certainly let the wild huntsman make his own terms with me for better luck.

Today, for the first time, I saw the meadows on fire. They are of vast extent, running far into the woods-like the friths of a lake; and as the wild grass, which they supply in the greatest profusion, furnishes the new settler with all the hay he uses for his stock, they are burnt over thus annually to make it tender. These fires, traveling far over the country, seize upon the large prairies and consume every tree in the woods, except the hardiest, cause the often mentioned oak openings so characteristic of Michigan scenery. It is a beautiful sight to see the fire shooting in every direction over these broad expanses of land, which are kindled at a variety of points. The flame at one moment curls along the ground, and seems to lick up its fuel below, while at the next it tumbles over like the breakers of the sea upon the dried grass, and sweeps it in a wave of fire from the ground. I found myself repeatedly surrounded by the fire while riding hither and hither, watching its progress; but was only on two occasions exposed to any inconvenience - once when my horse sank in the mire to the saddle girths, so that I had to dismount in a morass covered with high weeds, to which the flames were approaching and another time when I found myself in a small patch of woodland, which cracked and roared like Tophut itself. As rode to and fro, trying to find a point where, if necessary, I might encounter the flame to the least disadvantage, if unable to avoid it altogether, the ridiculous position in which I had placed myself reminded me not a little of that which Andrew Fairservice occupied on the rock, when he trotted hither and thither on his narrow platform, to avoid the bullets of Rob Roy's caterans. A finer subject for reflection, however, presented itself near the spot. A small brook crossed the meadow, and I bethought myself of placing it between me and the fire; but my horse, when I rode him rapidly to the brink, and endeavored to jump him, recoiled. I wheeled round and tried it again, but his recent experience in the treacherous marsh made him fear the soggy margin, and nothing could prevail upon the cautious animal to approach it. At the last attempt, he recoiled so suddenly with a terrified snort, that I was nearly thrown over his head; and looking for the new cause of anxiety, where the stream wound around so as almost to double itself in front of me, I saw, on the little península of the burning meadow thus formed, an Indian standing with folded arms amid the wreathing smoke, and surveying my motions with an aspect of perfect calmness. He was a middle-aged man, rather tall, and in the full costume of his tribe. The hair on his forehead, which was seamed with several ghastly scars, was nearly white; but three long plaited locks of raven black fell down behind, from the crimson handkerchief which bound his brows. He wore a woolen frock, edged with black, with scarlet leggings and moccasins; white arms of silver, and a belt containing his scalping knife completed his equipment. All these, however, were observed afterward, when I had given up the attempt to cross the brook, and, spurring through the flame where it was lowest, had placed myself by the side of the old warrior. But for the present I remained fixed in my seat, gazing on the noble apparition with as much delight as if my own call had cooked it from the ground. I had seen a dozen Indians, of all sizes and sexes in the course of the day, not one of whom had awakened the slightest ïnerest; but there was that about the port and bearing of this grim-looking savage which, with the somewhat theatrical attitude he assumed and the circumstances under which I first beheld him, carried me away completely. He smiled when I approached him and saluted me with great kindness of manner; though, as neither of us understood the language of the other, there could be but little interchange of ideas between us. The few Indian expressions of which I am master were soon expended, and he seemed not to lave a worn of English to give me in exchange. He made me understand, however, that the frightful wounds which disfigured his noble front were received while fighting on the side of the British against the Americans at Sandusky.