Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-01-10

Jected halfway up the cliff. In an instant it
struck the earth, head foremost, with loud
bump and, bounding to the height of several
feet, came back with somersault on its legs.
and stood firmly.
An involuntary 'hurrah = broke from the
hunters, who all recognized at glance, the
'Carnero Cimmaron.' or 'bighorn.' He had
cleared the precpice at tive leaps, lighting at
each time on his huge crescent-shaped horns.
For moment both parties-hun,ers and
game-seemed equally taken by surprise, and
stood eyeing each other in mute wonder. II
was but for moment. The men made rush
for their rifles, and the animal recovering from
his trance of astonishment, tossed back his
horns, and bounded across the platform. In
dozen springs he had reached the se.vedre of
the snow, and plunged into its yielding bank
but at the same instant, several rifles cracked.
and the white wreath was crimsoned behind
him. He still kept on, however, leaping and
breaking through the drift
We struck into his track, and followed with
the eagerness of hungry wolves. We could
tell by the numerous gouts that he was she'd
ding his life-blood, and about fifty PAGES far
ther on we found him dead
A shout apprised our companions of our sue
cess, and we had commenced dragging back
the prize, when wild cries reached us from the
platlorm,-the yels of the men, the screams
of women, mingled with oaths and exclama-
tions Of terror.
! We ran to the entrance. On reaching it,
sight was before US that caused the stoutest TO
tremble. Hunters, Indians, and women were
running to and fro in frantic confusion. utter
! ing their varied cries. We knew our enemy
at a gIance-the dreaded monsters of the
mountains-,he grizzly bears!
There were five of ihem-fve in sight
there might be others in the background. Five
were enough TO destroy our whole party, Gagged
as we were, and weakened by famihe
They had reached the cliff in chase of the
/ Cimmaron, and hunger and disappointment
were visible in their horrid aspects. Two of
them had already crawled close to the scarp,
and were paving over and snufIing the air, as
if searching for place TO descend. The other
three reared themselves on their hams, and
commenced maneuvring with their fore-arms,
in a human like and comical pantomime
We were in no condition to relish the
amusement. Every man hastened to arm him
SELF those who had e.nptied their rifles hur-
riedly reloading them.
For your life don't' cried Carey, catch
ing at the gun of one of the hunters.
The caution came too late; halfadozen
bullets were already whisiling upwards.
The effect was just what the trapper had an
ticipated. The bears, maddened by the bull
lets, which had harmed them no more than the
pricking of as many pins, dropped to their all
fours again, and with fierce grows, commenced
descending the cliff.
The scene of confusion was now at lis
height. Several Of the men, less brave than
their comrades. ran off to hide themselves in
the snow, while others commenced climbing
the low pine trees.
Cache the galsl' cried Carey. 'Hyar,
yer darned Spanish greasers if yer wont
fight, hook on to the women wheen O. yer
!, and loat them to the snow. Cowardly sinks
I-wagh =
See to them, DOCTOR l shouted to the Ger
man, who, thought, might be best spared
from the fight, and the next moment the doc
tor, assisted by several Mexicans, was hurry
ing the terrified girls towards the spot where
he had left the Cimmaron.
Many of us knew that to hide, under the
circumstances, would be worse than useless,
The fierce but sagacious brutes would have
discovered US one by one, and destroyed US ii
detail. They must be met and fought = thai
was the word, and we resolved TO carry it ntC
execution.
There were about dozen Of us who 'stooc
, up to it'-all the Delawares and Shawanoes
+, with Carey and the mountain men.
We kept firing at the bears as they raj
along the ledges in their zig gag descent, bu
our rifles were out OF order, our fingers wer,
| uutnDSu WIN COiu, anu OoA hNA'SS "N~HN"N>
with hunger. Our bullets drew blood from iht
hideous brutes, yet not shot proved deadly
1t only stung them into fiercer rage.
1t was fearful moment when the last sho
, was fired, and still not an enemy the, less.
We flung away the guns, and, clutching th'
hatchets and hunting-knives, silently awaited
: our grizzly friends.
We had taken our stand close TO the rock
: 1t was our design to have the first blow, as th'
!, animals, for the most part, came sterr-fore
: most down the cliff. In this we were dlsap-
E pointed On reaching ledge some ten Zee
S from the platform, the foremost bear halted
, and seeing our position, hesitated to descend
The next moment, his companions, maddenet
! with wounds, tumbling down upon the SAINT
! ledge, and with fierce growls, the five huge
> bodies were precipitated into our midst.
Then came the desperate struggle, which
cannot describe,-ths shouts of the hunters
the wilder yells of our Indian allies, the hoarsC
worrying of the bears. the ringing OF the tom
| ahawks from skulls like flint, the deep, dul
sthud' of the stabbing- knife, and now and theI