Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-04-19

turned into the cane. The next thing that
claimed attention, was the arrangement OF
the days campaign. This was settled by
giving Johnson ard Jones both side of the
creek upwards, Smith the swamp on the left,
and ourselr that, on the right bank, down
wards Four of The dogs followed Smith, and
Pont of course was with me the other
other two said they were dogs enough them
selves.
Well all burst of, every man to his range.
And now comes the tough part of my story.
We have often been told that thar mar
bar on Oakchun, but we have never given
credence to the story.-Judge our astonisll-
mrnt then, al beholding before we had gone
half IA mile through the cane ito accomplish
which consumed more than an hour) stout
black animal, good deal like "A black hog,
dart out ofthe cane before us, and make for
IA huge halow popular? 1t was bcar-a
cub of about SIX months Old-a real, live
bear. There he was ascending the tree,
and we with the tremblcs' so bad, that we
couldn't keep the gun on his broad at forty
steps! Wasn't it provoking !--Arrived at
the entrance Of his den, the cub put one fore
paw into the hole, and letting 90 the other,
turning little round so as to have look at
us. We have seen humans whose faces
lacked the intelligence of that bears, as pla-
cling his loose paw on the side of bis snout,
he plainly said by the gestures, you can't
exactly come it, We should have Instantly
convinced him of the ialsity of his PROPOSE
ton, had not the head of another individual
precisely similar, except in size, to our wag-
gish cub, showed lsclfin the hole. 'lHaloo'
thought we, a flmiy concern, Ell 2 And
with that we pushed another bullet down the
barrel of our gun, for we rcccolect some
very terrible stories of the ferocily Of the
bears when defending their young. Pru-
dence was always in large proportion TO the
other constituents of our valor. After cog
itating a while on the novelty of our position,
a long ways from home and nobody close
by but family of bears, we bethought our
selves of our horn, and forthwith sounded
the notes want help,' most Justify. Smith
and his dogs were soon on the spot, and the
rest followed pretty soon. Johnson went to
the camp and returned with the boy and
axe.
The tree was tremendous one, but it
was resolved to fell il, which however was
easy work as it was "a mere she'll When it
started to fall, such rumbling and tumbling
as were made within, none but { bear hun
ter, had ever heard. 1t could only be link
ed to the sound produced by half dozen
school boys gamhoing in the bowels of AN
old s,eamboa, boiler. Down came the trce
out popped the old lady, next cub the
dogs cover them. The bear give gentle
sling with one of her paws, and simulane-
Gus herewith, old Troup's clock work.
comes to view through gaping wound -
Another sling-the fan pup finds himself
yeIping and bleeding, ten feet off in the
cane. Cries of don't Shoot mind the
dogs bring the axe come away Point
come away are mingled with the crash of
dry limbs and the cracking of the cane. 1t
was not long before the bear disposed of both
men and dogs; and although three shots were
fired at her, she managed TO get out of the
scrape followed by the cub.
Suddenly all was silent, and dssappoint-
ment was on every face. Hist what noise
is that! There's something in the old tree
yet Another cub watch out boys, at the
end of the log! Here he is, jus, midway
of the log, and waged so that he can't move
except to turn round Sure enough this was
the fact. Sam was instantly put to work to
cut him out, and in dozen ticks, the black
coat OF the imprisoned cub was visible. The
opening was then a little enlarged. And
young bruin then contrived to turn round so
as to bring his head to the hole. Sans axe
is poised steady Sam hit him right be-
tween the eyes!' The axe decends-lhe
bears head Is cefi-he qnvers and dies.
In the morning we found our way to the
camp, after day light. During that dismal
night, "A circumstance occurred which may
appear incredible, but which we soIemnlv
avert to be as true as any other part of this
story. About nightfhll immense hooks of
ducks descended into the little stagnant pools
around us, aud excited gaycty the admiration
and establishment of Poni, who had a mortal
anlipathy for ducks, growing out of the al
trealmen. he frequently receives at home
trrm several individuals of that species, who
help themselves out of his dish, when at
meals. Here was chance for revenge,
which the Sagacous ANNA did not let slip
About midnight he awakened us, and giving
us, to understand that he had something on
hand, he silently crept into the nearest la
COON, and with steallhy tread came upon a
fine flock as they rode at anchor, near the
shore, like fleet of little boats. lie gently
touches the tail of one, with his fore paw
the duck takes its head from under its wing
imam instant, Pont seized the head in his
mouth and crushed it before the note of alarm
can be sounded. Thus he despatched one
by one, the whole flock In the morning
he piled up before us, twcnly-seven fine fat
ducks We Instantly voted him silver
collar.
Upon our return to the camp, we found
that our companions had killed fifteen ducks,
which with those taken by Pont, make the
respectable number of foriy-two. They had
also killed couple of young turkeys and a
small doe.
Sam arrived about ten o'clock with the
pack-horse and the weather hreatning rain,
it was agreed that we should break up our
camp and return home. But as we had not
yet killed single thing, the rest of the party