Deer Slayer

Adam could climb most any tree with great ease. And he had discovered a way to make his talent pay.

He collected moss and sold it by the pound to the burl shop at the Trees of Mystery. The finer the moss, the better the price and the higher Adam had to climb.

One day I tagged along.

With me around he could toss down the moss and I’d stuff into the burlap sacks. After filling up the sacks, Adam invited me up into a tree he had dubbed, “The Lookout Tree.”

I reluctantly climbed up the tree to the level that Adam was perched at.

Adam was spread out on a fat limb much like our gray house cat used to spread herself out on the windowsill. I clung on for my life.

Then we heard a sound. At first it was distant but it kept growing louder as each “snap” was heard.

Adam saw it first, a huge buck. It paused to sniff the air and then the ground.

My brother had his knife in hand by now. He gripped it so tight, his knuckles turned white.

Suddenly he rolled off the limb and in a moment it was over. I scrambled down the tree because Adam needed my help.

The struggle was hard as I pulled Adam out of the marshy bog in which he laid trapped face down.