New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-02

of apitchy darkness consequence Of the screen
Of bircll-bark No object could be distinguished in
that direction, and it was only by hearing him that
we could tell be still some yards J The snorts
however, were more or less distinct, as heard amid
the varying roar of the waterfalls and sometimes they
seemed as il the snout from which they proceeded
was close up to our stern. F 7$
We knew that if he once laid his paw upon the
canoe, should either be sunk compelled to leap
out and swim for it. We knew, moreover, that such
an event would be certain death to of at least
! need hardly affirm that my companion used his
paddle with all the energy of despair assisted him
as much as was in my power with the butt-end of my
gun, which was now empty. On account Of the hurry
and darkness, 7 had not attempted to reload ii.
| We had shot down stream for a hundred yards Or
so, and were about congratuating ourselves on the
prospect Of escape from the bear, when new OBJ.
ect of dread presented itself to our terrified agina
tons This object was the sound Of falling water;
but not as before coming from tributary stream
I No. 1t was a fall of the river upon which we were
floating, and evidently but very short distance be,
5l0W us #s4 S3s89$ sa55$584t 5sa9
We were, in fact, within less than one hundred
yards Of it Our excitement in consequence of being
pursued by the bear well the fact that the sough
of the cascade above still filed ears had prevent.
ed us from perceving this new danger until we had
| approached it,
seemed the echo of one / had myself uttered. Both
of understood the peril of situation and both
without another word set about attempting to stop
the boat.
We padded with all our strengt h-he with the oar,
whilst used the fiat butt Of my rifle. We had sue.
ceeded III bringing her to sort Of equilibrium and
were ~ Of being able to force her toward the
against the stern At the same moment the bow rose
up into the air, and number of the burning nine
knots fell back into the bottom Of the canoe. They
still continued to blaze and their light now falling
bear had seized hold of the dugout, and his fierce
head and long curying claws were visible over the
edge!
Although the little craft danced about upon the
water and was likely to be turned keel upward the
animal showed no intention Of relaxing it's hold but
on the contrary seemed every moment mounting high
er in the canoe.
Our peril was now extreme We knew it, and the
knowledge half paraly2ed u.s. 4@
Both of us started up, and for some moments half
sat- half crouched uncertain how to act. Should we
nse the paddles and get the canoe ashore it would
only be to throw ourselves into the jaws of the bear
On the other hand we could not remain as we were
for in few seconds we should be drifted over the
falls; and how high these were we knew not We
had never heard Of them; they might be fifty feet
they might be q hundred! High enough they were
no doubt, TO precipitate US into eternity.
The prospect was appalling, and our thoughts ran
rapidly. Quick action was required. / could think
Of no other than to lean steward and strike at the
bear with my dubbed rifle, at the time calling
| upon my companion to paddle for the shore. We
preferred, under circumstances rislng the chances
of land encounter with our grizzly antagonist.
| 4 had succeeded in keeping the bear out of the
canoe by several wellpanted blows upon the snout
and Dick was equally successful in forcing the dug.
out nearer to the bank, when sharp crack reached
my ears, followed by terrified cry from my compan-
! ion.
glanced suddenly round, to ascertain the calse OF
/ these demonstrations. Dick held in his hands short
1 round stick, which recognised as the shaft of the
paddle The blade had snapped off and was floating
1 away on the surfaced
We were now helpless. The manege of the canoe
was no longer possible. Over the falls she must 20
We thought of leaping out, but it wastoo late We
almost upon the edge and the black current that
bore our craft swiftly along would have carried oul
bodies with like velocity. We could not make doz
en- strokes before we should be swept to the brink
4 was too late.
We both saw this and each knew the feelings Of
the other, for we felt alike. Neither spoke; but
II crouchng down and holding the gunWales Of the
l canoe, we awaited the awful moment.
i The bear seemed to have some apprehension as wei
as ourselves for, instead Of continuing his endeavo
/ to climb into theacanoe, he contented himself witt
holding fast to the stern evidently under some alarm
| The torch still blazed, and the canoe was catching
fire; perhaps this it was that alarmed the bear.
4 The last circumstance gave us at the moment bu
little concern the greater danger eclipsed the less
Il We hardly noticed it, when we felt we were gon!
/ over
The canoe shot outward as if propelled by SOM
projectile force then came a loud crash as though
we had dropped upon hard rock Water, and spray
and troth were dashed over our bodies and the mex
moment, to surprise as well as delight we fel
ourselves still alive and seated in the canoe, which
4 was floating gently in still, smooth water.
1t was quite dark, for the torch had been extin
gnished but even in the darkness we could perceive
4 the bear swimming and houndering near the boat
To great satisfaction we saw him heading for the
shore and widening the distance between himself ant
with all the haste he could make The unexpected
precipitation over the falls had cooled his courage,
\ not his hostility.
Dick and headed the canoe, now half full of wa
ter orthe opposite bank which we contrved to reach
| by using the rifle and our hands for paddles Here
we made the little vessel fast to tree, intending tc
leave it there as we could not by any possibility get
| back over the falls. Having hung our game out o.
reach of the wolves, we turned faces up stream
and after long and wearisone walk, succeeded il
| getting back to the post.
Next morning, party went down for the venison
with the intention also of carrying the canoe back
over the falls. The craft however was found to be
SO much injured that it would not hang together dur
ing the portage and was therefore abandoned. This
was no pleasant matter to me- for it afterwards cost
me considerable sum before could square with the
I old Flathead for his worthless dug-out.n
---@~e~---
An old bachelor talking of g woman's rights in
our office yesterday said "Talk of equality of intel
leet forsooth! Let US see what they have done
where the sphere has been unquestioned and wide
4 open to 'em this thousand years. Sir
4 No woman ever produced a great painting OF
! statute.
| No woman ever wrote great poem.
/ No woman ever wrote a great drama.
No woman ever wrote great opera, or other piece
4 of music.
A No woman ever composed an important mechanical
i invention.
4 And, sir, no woman was ever a great cook
4 The best that can be said of the best of them il
thisThey have written clever letters, toerabe nov
els, and ntolerable epics. They have madeno sculp
lures, no music, no paintings worthy of the name
as TO Inventions" sir, they have invented nothing
outside OF millinery and mischief since the world be
CANT We were about to reply. when we discovered
: the wretch had disappeared. But really these al
grave charges. Where is Mrs. Lucy Stone2
We call vanity small thing, and yet in most pee
pie it is so large that 1t has the greatest difficulty
containing itself,