New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-14

ayou know thesold hunter is yours to bis last
drop Of blood"
II never doubted it, my old friend. Did you
| receive my letter from Paris !" s3as
@Yes, sir; and those gentlemen, your COM
rades, will have some work before them "
| Are there bears already ON the height,
them" asked Villetreton, extending his hand
in the direction Of one of the lofty peaks, whose
summit, covered with snow, glittered in the
morning sun. ss
Five in ALA complete memo ge--father,
mother, and children; besides an old bachelor,
whom the spaniards had driven to this side
sIn less than a week we shall go in pursuit
Of them Do you know,, pareur, some Of my
comrades are rather rough sportsmen; there is
one of them who is able to snuff a candle with
pistol at twenty PAGES"
Easier, perhaps, than to SNUFF a bear at
FOUR replied the old man, laughing"
"That is what said alsos But, as ! should
| wish to judge for myself Of his prowess, you
must place us stogether at the same post; at the
Bridge of Maufe, for instance"
"Huml" said the parsur, scratching his ear
"it would better please me to placs you else
where" s.s5,,ss.
.Whyi" NV t
Because, to guard this post, man ought to
be in state Of grace, for he will be between
4 two deaths-the bears and the precipice."
&c know the one, and do not fear the other;
thanks to your lessons" .s
5. am sure Of that Bu with your leave,
. should like to guard the bridge myself'
!" You are sure, then, that the bears will pass
this way !"
!, "Sure-yes; quite sure-no, Recollect that
: they are sullen and prudent beasts, which
never confde their plan Gf route to any one.'' n
. cit is agreed on. sha1i guard the bridge
8 with my comrade. Now go, and have the
trackers ready =
te Very well, very well,,' murmured the pa-
= reur, as he retired; 81 shall have my eye on
him" eFas 4sss-ss Z; n.
!. Eight days afterwards, all those invited, not
Excepting Monsieur de Malatour-who, despite
the delicate attentions of the host, preserved .
. cold reserve-were assembled at the chateau.
4 The magnificent grandeur of the Pyrenees. their
y shining submits relieved against the blue SKY
J, Of Spain was an unlocked for pleasure to the
n greater number of Requests, who, for the most
part, belonged to the rich and fertils plains Of
: the interior. aS#s
The morning following the arrival, o body Of
{ trackers and scouts, provided with all manner
10 Of discordant instruments - trumpets, sauce
Is pans drums, etc, etc., were assembled under
at the walls Of the chateau, with the pareur at
n their head; while by his side stood the mandrin.
who proudly guarded dozen large mastifs
"a held in leash by his vigorous helpers TINS
is young baron and his friends, armed with cara
g bines and hunting knives had scarcely appeared
70 when, by a sign from the pareur, the whole
/
70 selves seemed to understand the Importance O
=, this movement, and nothing was heard but the
confused tramp of feet, blending with the noist
10 of the distant torrent OF, at intervals, the CRY
~ of some belated night bird flying heavily home
ward in the doubtful glimmer of the yet unopened
70 day. -
Id tain, which Immediately overhung the chateau
er the first rays of the breaking from the eas
re glanced on the summit of the Pyrenees, an
D. suddenly Illuminating the landscape, discovere
n beneath them deep valley, covered with ma
on jestic pine trees, which murmured in the fres
is' breeze of the morning. .45 g-f.
ly Opposite to them, the foaming waters OF
:, cascade fell for some hundreds Of feet through
OF cleft which divided the mountains from the sum
NIT to the base. By one of those caprices {
nature which testify the primitive convulsior
l.. of our globe the chasm was surmounted by
'se natural bridge; the piles of granite at eac
eo side being joined by one immense fat rock, a
ts most seeming to verify the table of the Titan
g for it appeared impossible that these enormou
he blocks Of stone could ever have been raised |
, such an elevation by human agency. Sinists
mo legends were attached to the place, and ii
eat mountaineers recounted with terror that I
lea hunter, with the exception of the pareur, ha
6he ever been posted at the bridge Of Maure witt
out becoming the prey of either the bears I
req the precipice But the pareur was too good
SIT; Christian to partake of this ridiculous prej'
md dee he attributed the fatality to its real caus
the dizziness arising from the sight of the bea
yes and the precipice combined, by destroying tt
:, hunters presence of mind, made, his aim u
'lrd steady, anil his death the inevitable cons
gu ouence He could not, however, altogether {
This gsst bi,nself of fears for his Young master
tre obstinately perseyered in his intention of occ
Try, pying the bridge with his antagonist.
our After placing the barons companions at po.
which he considered the most advantageous, I
'ald pareur rejoined his men, and dsposlng tht
SO as to encompass the valley facing the cascat
en- commanded the utmost silence to be preserv
- until they should hear the first bark Of his d.
vho, At that signal the mastis we're to be unleash
8. the instruments sounded and all to move SLOW
forward contracting the circle as they {
noes preached the cascade These arrangements
y to ing made, the pareur and his dog, followed
9 the mandrin alone, disappeared IN the depths
-. the wood.
that For some minutes the silence had remain
lth- unbroken, when suddenly furious bark
aeur commenced, accompanied by low growing
,tlon Each prepared his arms the instruments SOU
and ed and the mastifs being let loose precipita
9 an themselves pell-mell in the direction OF
the struggle Their furious barking was soon
T the founded with the cries Of the hunters and
you din of the instruments, mingled with the form
able growing Of the bears, making altoget
to hideous concert, which, rolling along the s.
of the valley, was repeated by the DIST
tion echoes. at this moment the young baron
Q our garded his companion, whose countenal
also though pale, remained calm and scornful.
n my Attention, sir p' said he, in low yo
Glat, {. The bears are not far from US; let your
peril be true, or else"
lndie sKeep your counsel for yourself, sir !"
We no 6 Attention :. repeated Villetreton, witt
place seeming to notice the surly response, ss he
% not proaches!"
!, but Those who were placed in front OF the cas-
it i'm seeing the animals directing their course tt
with bridge, cried, from all parts, s Look out,
only out, Villetreton!s. But the breaking Of bra
lion.a es, followed by the rolling of loosened 81
down the precipice, had already given war
'epeat Of the animals near approach. Malateur
urage came deadly pale he, however, held his cara
rising firmly, in the attitude of resolute hunter
A bear at length appeared, with toa
accept mouth and glaring eyes. ut times turning
in en- he would fain struggle with his pursuers
when he saw the bridge. his only way Of es
COM occupied, he uttered fearful growl, and "a
guard himself on his hind legs. was rushing on ou
hunters, when ball struck him in the fore
o buzz and he fell dead at their feet.
b with Malatour convulsively grasped his gu
he ar had become completely powerless Sud
the lst new cries. louder and more pressing, were
at the Fire! fire! he is now on you. y crit
pareur, who appeared unexpectedly, pal
o. tah <l,n n,ti1 Init a