Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-08-01


toward him.
"What is the matter ?'' was now ask
led from below. It was Romanow'
5hYoice.
!" A bearl Oh help He is almos
here I" replied the distressed man indeel
anguish.
aWhere !? We cannot see him, " sale
GaloWin's voice, its trembling betrayed
the agitation of his friend. 'tHere on the
branch
! "A shot sounded !-another l-still anoth.
er !-Splinters of wood few about like
Eglass from the boughs, but the bear was
] not the least injured, and in vain those
below expected happy token from above.
Soon fearful scene was Displayed
1 The bear advanced cautiously onwards to
Stroganow, who had no choice but to
withdraw backwards, the knife in his
hand, his eyes fixed on his formidable
opponent, sliding along the bough to its
thinner extremity, as far as possible, there
to await the animal. The bear held on
by his fore paws, and had the great ad-
vantage of being on the thicker and less
pliable end, while Stroganow's situation
was most critical. The bear was within
four feet of him, and he had enough to
DO to hold on to the branch, which was
scarce six inches thick where he sat- The
beast began the attack by striking at
1'Stroganow with his right fore paw, and
he in return made violent thrust at his
enemy, but either hit him to, little effect,
or not at all /; then he lost his balance,
and hung on the bough by his left hand
and knee, without power to rise and help
himself. The next moment the bear
was upon him. The brave Russian, in
spite of his perilous position, endeavored
to thrust at his enemy, but soon lost con-
sciousness. The blood gushed from his
ears and the pain of the stroke from the
animal began to stupify him. All con-
sciousness vanished, and be dropped from
branch to branch, full sixty feet, down to
the snow.
These below had heard only the roar
ing of the bear, and the low moaning OF
their companion, when he suddenly fell
down in their midst. apparently lifeless.
Galowin quickly raised him up. and
placed him some PAGES back, near the
bushes. The rest waited to avenge the
supposed death of their friend. Mean
while, au audible cracking of the boughs
convinced the bearof the danger of his
situation. When he found his prey
snatched from him, he returned to the
thicker part of the branch, where he
seemed considering how he should act.
None of the men standing below were
practiced hunters, and the darkness was
so great they could not venture any
l,NFp T,,F
consulting in a low tone what measure to
take. when Galowin uttered a cry Of joy,
for Stroganow had returned to conscious
ness.
"Whore is the bear ?" was his first
question.
" The beast is sitting among the bran
ches, not low enough for US to see him p
replied Romanow.
" Begin TO cut down the tree, and
then he will descend of his own accord
But take care no misfortunes happen," F."
said Stroganow, shuddering with cold and
fever.
Sajew resolutely applied his skill while
Romanow. and Lomineff drew back with
their loaded rifles. Sajew had made but
six or eight strokes against the tree when
beast was seen hastily sliding down
backwards, clasping the trunk in his pow
erful fore paws.
Saiew escaped in time, and while he
was seizing his lance and flint. Roma
now and Lominef shot at the bear. But
their FIRE did not mortally wound the AMI
NAL, and rendered him only more furious.
The resolute men now took their lances,
in the use of which weapon, Lominef,
the pilot, was well practised. Helet the
bear run at Romanow, and then thrust
the weapon with such force and precision
into the soft part of the left shoulder
blade that he was struck down as if by
lightning, and expired on the spot.
| A dreadful victory The distressed
men now turned to their poor friend, who
was writhing upon the ground, in excru.
ciating pain. The sled was soon brought.
They threw the dead bear upon it, and
so placed it, that its soft warm body might
serve as couch for the wounded Strog-
anow. Then collecting their arms, they
set out for home. But. not thousand
PAGES from the spot. our poor hunters had
occasion bitterly to lament that in their
confusion they had forgotten to reload
their rifles, A, troop of wolves here rushed
out of the wood, land attacked them fierce
ly. The exiles thrust at them with their
lances, and stroye to defend themselves
with the energy of despair; when Gallo
win remembered that his rifle was loaded
He drew it forth, pointed it at the thickest
of the wolves and fred. As soon as the
shot was heard the beasts turned round
and with the utmost haste rushed in:c
the thicket, leaving one dead and seyera
wounded.
! They reached home without further
danger, but poor StroganoW was SO Sc
yerely injured by his fall that he died the
same night.