Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-07-28
THE DAILY spy,
The Bear Steak.
A GAsTRoNoMIc ADVENTURE.
lCoNCLUDED.1

somewhere IN the neiguborhood.' Ten minutes af
forwards second growl WAS heard; but this time
was SO loud and so near at hand that he BEGAN n
fear he should scarcely have time to reach plac
OF refuge, and threw himself fiat upon the ground
IN the earnest hope that the bear would be satisfe
with taking his pears instead of devourina himself
A lew moments of anxious suspense ensued dnrin
which, the bear, passing within ten PAGES of the ter
rled peasant, advanced in straight line toward
the pear tree in question. He climbed it with tn
utmost agility, although its branches creaked be
meath the weight of his ponderous body; and. hay
ing secured for himself comfortable position com
mltted no small havoc among the luscious berga.
NOTES. Having gorged himself to his hearts con.
tent, he slowly descended from the tree and re-
turned In tranquil dignity towards his mountain
nome. All this had occupied about hour, during
which, time had appeared to travel at much slow
er pace with the man than it did with the bear
William Mona was, however, at heart, a brave
and resolute man, and he said to himself, as he
watched his enemy's retiring steps,
"He may go home this time, if he pleaseS, but
Master Bruin, we shall meet again.
The next day one of his neighbors, who came TO
visit him, found him saving up the teeth of pitch
fork, and transforming them into sugs
What are you about, Thereof he asked.
81 am amusing myselE,'' replied William
The neighbor, taking up of the pieces of iron,
IL ONt anu Of6I Ill HIS lld0u, like man WHO
understood such things, and then said quietly:
eff you were to own the truth, William, YOU
would acknowledge that these little scraps of iron
are destined to pierce a tougher skin than that of
the Chamoise'
''Perhaps they may" replied William.
4" GU know that am an honest fellow return
ed Francis (for the neighbor called) sswell,
if you choose, we will divide the bear between US
two men, in such case, are better than one.''
"Ihat's as it may be- replied William, at the
same time cutting his third slug.
''I'll tell you what continued Francis; 81 will
leave you in full posses sion of the skin, and we will
only share the flesh between US, together with the
bounty offered by government for every bear that is
killed, and which will give forty francs piece
81 should prefer having the whole mysef,'' re-
piled William
''But you cannot prevent me from seeking the
bears track in the mountain, and placing myself in
ambush on his passage
''You are free to do that if you please
So saying, William, who had now completed the
manufacture Of his slugs, began TO measure out Z
charge of powder double in amount to that usual,
placed III carbne.
81 see you intend to use your musket?'' sal,
Francis.
eyes, Of course do; three iron sugs will d.
their work more surely than leaden bulIet.''
"Ihey will spoil the skim
''Never mind that, if they do their work more eff
ectualy .
''And when do you intend to commence youi
chase?''
81 will tell you that to morrow
"Once more, then-are you quite determined moi
TO let me share the chance with you?''
eyes; prefer managing the whole matter my
SELF and sharing neither the danger nor the profit
chacun pour SOL"
Farewell, then, neighhor-I wish you success. .
In the evening, as Francis was passing Mona s
dwelling, he saw the huntsman quietly seated on
the bench before his door, engaged in smoking his
pipe He once more approached him and said
''See, bear you no ill-will--I have discovered
the BEARS track, therefore might lie in wait for
him and shoot him, if pleased, without your help
but have come once more to you, to propose that
we should attack him together
Zach one for hmsef,' replied William, as be-
fore.
Francis knew nothing of Mona 5 proceedings dur
ing the remainder OF that evening, except that his
vile saw nm take up his musket at about half past
ten O'Clock, roll up bag of grey sackcoth, place
it under his arm, and leave the house. She did not
venture to ask him what he was about; for Mona,
in such cases, apt to tell her to hold her tongue
and not trouble herself about matters which does
not concern her.
Francis had really, in the meantime, tracked the
bear, as he had said he would. lie had followed lis
traces as far as the border Of Williams orchard,
and, not liking to trespass upon his neighbours terri
tory, he then took up his post the borders of the
pne-wood which lay on the slope of the hill over
hanging Mona's garden.
As it was a clear night, he could observe with
ease from this spot all that was going on below
He saw the huntsman leave his house and advance
towards gray rock, which had rolled down from
the adjoining heights into the centre Of his little en-
closure, and now stood at the distance of abou
twenty PAGES from his flvorite pear-tree. Their,
Mona paused, looked round as if to ascertain tina
he was quite alone, unrolled his sack, and slipped
into it, only allowing his head and his two aims t
emerge above the opening. Having thus, in grea
measure, concealed his person, he leaned bael
against the rock and remained so perfectly still tina
even his neighbor, although he knew him to b,
there, could not distinguish him from the ifeles
stone. A quarter of an hour thus elapsed in pa
tient expectation. AT last, distant growl wa:
heard: and in less than five minutes afterwards the
bear appeared in sight. But whether by accident
or whether it were that he had scented the second
huntsman, he did not. on this occasion, follow his
usual track, but divergng towards the right, .es-
capped falling into the ambush which Francis hat
prepared for him.
William, in the m altimc, did not STIR an inch
1t might have been imagined that ne did not ever
see the savage animal for when ne was lying II
wait. and which seemed TO brave him by passing SC
closely within the reach of his gun. The bear, OF
his side. appeared quite unconscious Of in enemy
presence. and advanced with rapid strides toward
the tree. But at the moment when he rose upon hi
hind leps in order to clasp the trunk with his for
paws. thus leaving his breast exposed, and no long
| er nrotected by his broad and massive shoulders,
bright fash Of light illuminated the face Of the rock