The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-04-23
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
Adventure with an Alpine Bear.

My first adventure with bear occur.
red when was eight years old. 1t wa
in summer, when our people lead theii
hocks TO the upper pastures, which the
melted snow leaves uncovered. My pa
rents had gone to mountain chalet
leaving me in The valley under the charge
of a servant. One day made my es'
cape, and set out to meet them. | walk.
ed on; eating the bread and cheese giver
me for break fast, when, as was passing
through wood, ! saw lying asleep a
cross my path an animal which l took
for huge brown dog. | felt frightened
but the wish TO Join my parents, who had
been detained from home longer Than
they expected, prevailed; and on ! went
gliding as silently as possible past the
unknown beast Despite, however. the
little noise made, the creature reused
himself, and came towards me. Wish
ing TO proptiate him, | threw down a
bit OF bread-he smelt it, swallowed ii
with apparent pleasure, and stretched
out his head as if asking for more.
ventured to caress him, which he suffer
ed me to do, although uttering sort Of
protesting growl. Throwing my break
fast behind me bit by bit, in order to oc-
cupy the attention of my strange com>
panion, whose presence was anything
but agreeable, | reached at length the
boundary Of our farm. There he ceased
to follow me. | entered the chalet,
where, to my great joy, | found my faith
er, and told him my adventure. He i'm
mediately seized his gun, sailed forth,
and returning at night after lruiless
chase, told me that my mornings ac>
quaintance was no other than bear,
from whom had had an almost mirac~
ulous escape.
Twelve years passed on without my
renewing my acquaintance with the ur-
sine tribe. assisted my father in man
aging his farm, and spent my leisure time
in reading, taking particular pleasure in
narratives Of travel and adventure.
1t happened one day that a neiehbor
named Raymond. practised hunter of
bears and chamois, asked me to accom>
pany him on mountain expedition. l
gladly consented, and we set out, each
carrying a carbine on his shoulder, and
small sharp Ratchet fastened in his
belt
1, was a beautiful summer day. To>
wards five o'clock in the evening, having
shot only few birds, we began to think
of returning. As we were passing
through thick wood, Raymond, who
was grumbling at our want Of success,
recollecled that there lay at short dis>
tance, a sort Of little meadow where
chamois often went TO feed, At that
hour there was not much chance of meet
ing them, but Raymond determined to
make the trial Placing me in ambush,
he directed me 10 watch narrowly, and
if he did not return at the end Of hall
an hour, TO descend the mountain. /
saw him plunge into the wood, and stoop
down and creep warily along.
When | found myself alone, my first
movement was TO inspect the post as
signed to me, in order tc guard against
surprise. Twilight already darkened the
tops of the fr-trees, although it was
scarcely six o'clock. The faligues oi
the day had abated notonly my strength,
but my courage inslinctivelv sought
for fir tree, less denuded of the lower
branches than they commonly are, to
serve as an asylum in case of necessity
l then took up my position beneath it
slung my carbine, and waited patiently
The shadows of evening were fast dark
ening, although the setting sun still gid
ed the western horizon. The appoint
ed half-hour had expired without my
seeing anything. and | began TO think o
returning. Just as was abou, to un'
sling my carbine, heard a rustliil
noise, too loud to be caused by the pas
sage of chanois at is probably Ray
mond," said | to myself, and was going
to meet him, when it struck me that thu
approaching tread, crashing through The
wiiherea branches, was too slow ant
heavy for that of my comrade. re-
treated 10 my tree. aud another momen
revealed The newcomer, II was an e
normous bear, with fiery eyes, who can't
on with lowered head, moi having ye