Butte record., 1856-03-01


went rolling and struggling, in the bat
tie of life and death-through the
trees, and into the deep drift, staining
the snow with their mingled blood
Here, two or three men were engaged
with single foe-there some brave
hunter stood battling alone. Several
were sprawling upon the ground. Ev-
cry moment, the bears were lessening
the number of their assailants!
/ had been struck down at the com
mencement Of the struggle. On re-
gaining my feet, | saw the animal that
had felled me hugging the PROSTATE
body of man.
1t was Code. I leaned over the
bear, clutching its shaggy skin. did
this to steady myself. l was weak
and dizzy-so were we all. | struck
with all my force, stabbing the animal
on the ribs.
Letting 60 the Frenchman, he turn
ed On me. | endeavorcd to avoid the
encounter, and ran backward, Tending
him off with my knife.
All at once | came against a snow
drift, and fell over on my back. Next
moment, the heavy body was precipi-
tated upon me, the sharp claws pier
ced deep into my shoulder. l inhaled
the monsters feitd breath; and strik-
ing wildly with my right arm, still
free, we rolled over and over in the
snow.
was blinded by the drift. l felt
myself growing weaker and weaker; it
was the loss of blood. / shouted
despairing shout--but it could not
have been heard at ten paces' distance.
Then there was strange kissing sound
in my ears-a bright light hashd a
cross my eyes; burning object pass
ed over my face, scorching the skin;
there was smell as of singing hair
| could hear voices, mixed with the
roars Of my adversary; and all at
once the claws were drawn out of my
flesh, the weight was lifted from my
breast, and was alone!
rose to my feet, and rubbing the
snow out of my eyes, looked around.
| could see no one. was in a deep
hollow made by our struggles, but |
was alone!
The snow all around me was dyed
crimson; but what had become of my
terrible antagonist! Who had rescued
me from his deadly embrace?
| staggered forward to the open
ground. Here new scene met my
gaze: strengthening man running
across the platform, with huge fire
brand-the bole of a burning pine
tree-which he waved in the air. He
was chasing one of the bears, that,
growing with rage and pain, was max
ing every effort to reach the cliffs
Two others were already halfway up,
and evidently clambering with great
difficulty, as the blood dripped back
from their wounded fanks.
The bear that was pursued soon
took to the rocks, urged by the red
brand scorching his shaggy hams, and
was soon beyond the reach Of his pur-
suer.
The latter now made towards
fourth, that was still battling with two
or three weak antagonists. This one
was "routed" in a twinkling, and with
yells Of terror, followed his comrades
up the bluff. The strange man looked
aroulA for the fifth. 1t had disap-
peaared. PROSTATE, wounded men
were strewed over the ground, but the
bear was nowhere to be seen. He had
doubtless escaped through the snow.
was still wondering who was the
hero of the frcbrand, and where he
had come from. ! have said he was
strange looking man. And he was
so-and like 10 one Of our party that |
could think of. His head was bald, no,
not bald, but naked: there was not a
hair upon it, crown or sides, but naked
and it glistened in the clear light like
polished ivory. | was puzzled beyond
expression, when man-Garey-who
had been felled upon the platform by
a blow from one Of the bears, suddenly
sprang to his feet, exclaming-
GO it, Doc! Three chyars for the
doctorr'
To my astonishment, I now recog
nised the features of that individual
the absense of whose brown locks had
produced such metamorphosis as, |
believe, was never effected by means
Of borrowed hair.
''Here's yur scalp, Doc" cried Ga
rey running up with the wig; 'By the
living thunder! yer saved us ALL" and
the hunter seized the German in his
wild embrace.
Wounded men were all around, and
commenced crawling together. But
where was the fifth of the bears? -Four
only had escaped by the cliff.
"Yonder he goesp' cried a voice a
IL