Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-07
VOLUME X. NO. 90.
The Bear and the Boar.

The following amusing scene was related To
the author Of Passional Zoology" by one who
took part in it:
"We were crossing" says he, athe vast pine for
est of California, so remarkable for the absolute
silence which reigns under their vaults. One
day, as we approached the edge Of one Of these
immense glades with which these sombres for
ests are pierced, and where the resinous trees
yield to other fragrant scents, we heard quite
near us growlingswhich seemed to come from
above our heads, and which my companion,
Western hunter Of the old stock, recognized at
the first note for the voice Of bear; and we
forthwith made ourselves small, and glided
through the brushwood to try to discover the
place where the animal was perched.
A second growl of anger, deeper toned than
the first, and which seemed to be followed by
another growl of interior satisfaction, calls our
eyes towards gigantic persmmon, situated
about twenty yards from US, and whose bOughs
and shade are the scene of comical drama.
The two personages of whose conversation
we have caught few phrases in our passage
are bear and wild boar. The first, gentle
man of the largest size, is perched on great
branch of the persimmon, and is eagerly occu-
pied with gathering the persimmons. But the
fruit being perfectly ripe, adhering quite loosely
to their STEMS it happens that the most delicious
fall like hail on the ground at the least shake
that the heavy animal gives the bough, which
greatly discomforts the bear and provokes from
him oahs of impatience, but fJr the same reason
charmes the wild boar epicure posted at the foot
of the tree, and who at each shower Of persim.
mons manifests his satisfaction by very decided
grunt.
About the moment we appeared upon the
scene, the irritation of the bear had already
risen to cherry red, and it was easy 10 preceive
that it would not be long in reaching white
heat. "Oh! an excessively pleasant idea"
whispers the spiritual child of Tennessee into
my ear suppose we profit by the cordial ILL
will that these two beasts bear each other, to set
them on death fght?" "How SOP" "Let
us see; the method is very simple; one Of your
two barrels Is loaden with small shot just put
it for me into the aeshest part of that fellows
body " and he pointed with his finger through
the leaves at where l should hit.
81 know the bear," added he; when he has
got one idea in his head he has not got it any
where else, and as he has been wishing much
harm to that boar for the last q1arter Of an hour
no one will persuade him but it is the wild boar
that has shot at him, and then you will gee him
jump upon the supposed aggressor and take
vengence for the body joke. tell you we shall
have laugh"
Quickly done as said, tickled tho hairy beast
in the right spot. The beast has hardly felt
himself stung when he gives himself up to his
fury, and falls like a bomshell upon the unfor-
tunate boar, not less innocent of the fault than
surprised at the aggression. The duel did not
last long. The conquering bear prostrated his
rival and set about tearing him to pieces, but
affected not to perceive that his enemy, before
dying, had opened his side with terrible cash
of his tusks. His strength soon deserts him,
however, and he totters and doubles up on the
body of the slain boar. Sand it was thus"
modestly concludes the narrator, that have
acquired the right to boast of having killed a
black bear and a wild boar at one shot, and with
No.