Courage by Joseph G. Udvari Read Free Book Online Page B

hide behind those bushes.”
    The settled in and waited, hoping the deer would show.
    The wait was short, three appeared, one buck and two does, cautiously looking left then right, they walked toward the stream. Out of nowhere, their gray wolf attacked the deer, driving them toward the waiting hunters. As the deer bolted directly toward them, Jim lifted the pole with the knife, and like a javelin, hurled it toward one of the does. It connected, just above the doe’s right front leg. The doe was able to shake it loose and ran after the other two deer. The wolf, ignoring Jim and Lucas, took off after the deer. Jim picked up the pole and shouted.
    â€œFollow the trail of blood!”
    â€œOkay, dad.”
    The two hunters ran as fast as they could, following the wounded deer, it was loosing blood and slowing down. Just then they heard a crash and saw the wolf knock the deer down and hold it by its throat.
    â€œLet’s get it dad!”
    But Jim was concerned; he didn’t know how the wolf would react. Would it protect its kill, or would it allow Jim to take the deer?
    â€œLet’s wait for a few minutes to see what the wolf will do.”
    It took the wolf five or so minutes to suffocate the deer. He then released its grip on the deer’s throat and glancing at Jim and Lucas, he slowly slinked away.
    â€œWow, dad did you see that?” Lucas exclaimed.
    â€œI think he’s reciprocating for all the fish dinners we gave him.”
    They went to the fallen deer, “It weighs about 70-80 pounds I guess,” Jim said. “You grab the hind legs while I take the front legs and,” he looked around, “We’ll take it over to that tree,” he motioned with his head.
    â€œWe need to hang the deer, head down and drain the blood, I saw that on a hunting show once. You see dad, sometimes I watch stuff on TV other than junk,” Lucas said.
    They found a sturdy branch and while Jim held up the deer, Lucas securely tied the hind legs of the slain doe to the branch with some nearby vines.
    â€œThis will be gross, but I have to cut the throat so the blood can drain out.”
    â€œAt least Jill doesn’t have to see this.”
    â€œ I sure wouldn’t want to see that either,” Alicia remarked.
    It took them almost all morning to skin the deer and cut it into pieces. As they worked, they saw a pair of yellow eyes peering at them. Jim threw a few pieces of deer meat toward the eyes and watched as the wolf devoured them.
    â€œDad, let’s give him some more, he looks hungry.”
    As they cut and portioned the meat, they tossed chunks to the wolf, which by that time was only ten feet from them, and getting closer, but not in a menacing way.
    They made a sleigh out of branches and cedar boughs, loaded the meat onto the sleigh and started back to camp. The wolf followed them, but stayed back about fifty feet. When they arrived at camp, Mary was ecstatic when she saw the meat. Jill muttered “Yuk,” but looked on with interest.
    They immediately started to roast the meat and it wasn’t long before the aroma was driving everyone nuts, including Jill.
    That evening as they sat around the fire, Jim and Lucas told the story of how they had killed the deer or more correctly how they had help from the wolf to kill the deer.
    â€œThe wolf seemed to understand that we were waiting for the deer, don’t ask me how, but I’m sure it knew what we were trying to do.”
    â€œThat wolf is becoming a really good friend to us,” Mary said.
    â€œYeah, and that’s a blessing,” Jim replied.
    There was a loud howling noise off in the distance and their wolf that had been sitting close by, stood up and howled back.
    There were a few more howls from the wolf in the distance, and then answering howls and yelps from nearby. Then all was quiet.
    â€œWhat was that all about dad?” Lucas questioned.
    â€œThat’s how wolves communicate with each