Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-08-10

of the existence OF the precious metal, and
ss soon as my attention was directed TO the
stream, ] made up my mind tina. the dirt was
worth spanning ou,." by wsy of trial, al
once. All though, Of the bear was gone.
Gold was more potent than grizzly for the
nonce, and has lilly unslinging my blankets,
60. ou. my pick and pan from my luggage
and wen. 10 work. My success as.onished
me. Two ounces from The first pan end one
from The second! Visions Of immediate
opulence swan before my eyes. Shall ]
own il? For momen.-only ONE hesi-
laed whether should 60 back TO my part
ners. or retain the secre, for my own benefit.
b. the time had recovered my senses
sufficiently 10 leave the brigh. visions Of the
future, and calmly consider my present con-
di,ion, the sun was sinking behind the hills.
or course, had no intention Of going any
further that night, as by leaving the location
in the dark, ] might fail TO find j. again; end
! was in no humor 10 run any such risk
| should have mentioned before lha. | was
not travelling on any trail, bu, over the
mountains, with no guide bu. by compass
and the sun. On feeling in my pocket for
my matches to Iigh, fire, found .ha.
had neglected to bring them. Mu,'erng
sligh, snslhsma on my folly in not carrying
6fe-arms, | munched piece of hard bread
for my supper, end laid down in my blsn-
ke,s for The night. | lay awake some time
looking up into the heavens as The blue
vauI. grew darker and darker, and The stars
came ou. one by one. remember think
ing jus. as wen, 10 sleep .hs, it was the
dsrkes, night | had ever seen, and dreamt
that made several millions in the claim !
had been prospecting, the whole Of which
devoted to Lighting the mines with gas.
!. mus, have been midnight. when a.
woke. My ,hroa. was dry and psrched,
and go. up 10 quench my thirst ct The
stream. Bending over, drank freely, and
bsthed my head in cold. heard q rus,ling
in The bushes behind me, and turned 10 gee
what i, was. Maria Santissima huge
black animal was standing on my blankets,
devouring my provisions ] once had
doubts in regard 10 the possibility of the
human hair assuming under the influence Of
terror, The erec. position asserted by the
ghos, of Mr.. Hamlel's falher-bu, they ex-
listed no longer. /. seemed 10 me as if .
whe.s.foresi stood upon my head! Now
wha, was TO dos Tho -alish,sst move
ment would a,,rac, the beasts's notice, end
The idea Of furnishing him with petit SOU
per al my expense, was not at ell 10 my
liking. stood in the bushes looking at the
animal half an hour, when feeling somewhsl
fa,gued, thought would try 10 ST. dow n
without attracting his attention. In the per-
formsncc Of this msnugvre, few briars
and sharp sticks quite plainly notified me
that my shirt was nv only garment; fact
which the chilly night air would have made
app.ren, bu, for my frigh, which engross-
ed all my attention. BY this time Mr.. B'uin
had composed himself TO slumber in my
blankets, and could hear his deep and re-
suIar breathing distinctly. The nigh, was
so dark that | could hardly see him, bu.
came To The conclusion thu. he was not SO
large as some Of whom ] had heard stories
related. He was quite large enough, how
ever, 10 my estimation, 10. cut off your hum
BILE servan, in the flower Of his youth. Gold
is powerful, bu. ! would have given ell that
i had dreamed Of making TO have been
quietly sleeping in some house or ten. with
10 the borders Of civilization a. that time.
in about an hour-i. seemed q long week
to me-my visitor go. up aud walked down
10 The water, where heard him drinking
while INDUCED in some pious wishes fo'
his s,rsnguIa,ion. | was then Iejoced .c
hear him plunge into the water and force
his way through the bushes on the othel
side. Shivering, crswled into my blankets
again and tried 10 compose myself to sleep
No sooner had the drowsy god vouchsafet
me The sligh,es, wink Of sIumber, wher
splash wen, something in the water sgsin
and the mex. momen. The blsck form Of N,
.ormenlor emerged from the bushes.
thought my hour come. Home, wife snt
children, all fitted before my eyes. NJ
kind friends to break to my relatives .h'
.idings of my un'imely fate! No comfo',
ing assurances Of Chrislian burial Blu
here, in the wilderness. my form must lie
the prey Of the wild beast; and as my bones
grew white with exposure and crumblet
into dust, my friends, in the heart sickness
Of hope deferred, would vainIy c"njectur.
wha, had been my fate Nearer and neare
the monster approached uII a, last he sto"t
a, my feet, when to my surprise he coolly
laid his shaggy wet form across them on tb'
top Of my blanket. hardly dared breathe
every muscle was rigid, and ] lay momen
lsriy expecting his a..sck. My feet grew
numb with his weight, and the water from
his hair soaked through the blankets enc
completely chilled me.
A thousand thoughts passed through my
mind while the beast lay on my feet Some
times J thought lha. ] could remain quie
ill the morning, when he nigh, get up and
move of, leaving me unmoles,ed. Then il
would come into my mind .ha, | had heard
that bear would no. attack man unless
moles:ed or verv hnng,v Tha, he conl.