t pugnacity of the rutting season, he saw in the white
stranger only a possible rival, and grew hot with rage at his approach.
With an impatient stamping of his slim fore hoofs, he gave challenge.
But to the stallion this was an unknown language. Innocently he came up,
his nose stretched out in question, till he was within a few feet of the
motionless buck. Then, to his astonishment, the latter bounced suddenly
aside like a ball, stood straight up on his hind legs, and struck at him
like lightning with those keen-edged, slim fore hoofs. It was a savage
assault, and two long, red furrows--one longer and deeper than the
other--appeared on the stallion's silky, white flank.

In that instant the wanderer's friendliness vanished, and an avenging
fury took its place. His confidence had been cruelly betrayed. With a
harsh squeal, his mouth wide open and lips drawn back from his
formidable teeth, he sprang at his assailant. But the buck had no vain
idea of standing up against this whirlwind of wrath which he had
evoked. He bounded aside, lightly but hurriedly, and watched for an
opportunity to repeat his attack.

The stallion, however, was not to be caught again; and the dashing
ferocity of his rushes kept his adversary ceaselessly on the move,
bounding into the air and leaping aside to avoid those disastrous teeth.
The buck was awaiting what he felt sure would come, the chance to strike
again; and his confidence in his own supreme agility kept him from any
apprehension as to the outcome of the fight.

But the buck's great weakness lay in his ignorance, his insufficient
knowledge of the game he was playing. He had no idea that his rushing
white antagonist had any other tactics at command. When he gave way,
therefore, he went just far enough to escape the stallion's teeth and
battering fore feet. The stallion, on the other hand, soon realized the
futility of his present method of attack against so nimble an adversary.
On his next rush, therefore, just as the buck bounced aside, he wheeled
in a short half-circle, and lashed out high and far with his steel-shod
heels. The buck was just within the most deadly range of the blow. He
caught the terrific impact on the base of the neck and the forward point
of the shoulder, and went down as if an explosive bullet had struck him.
Before he could even stir to rise, the stallion was upon him, trampling,
battering, squealing, biting madly; and the fight was done. When the
wanderer had spe