Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-03-14

Il
there was little merit or difficulty in
achieving what had promised.
l took my departure about north
vest course from tie cabin, which led
me direct into the forest. The snow
was abouta foot deep, and the wind
was blowing hard from the north. Il
drifted much in the openings; yet this,
| thought. was in my favor. as the
noise made by the wind among the
trees prevented the game from hear
ing my approach in "still hunting.''--
But was mistaken in my calcula-
tons. for had travelled Eve or six
miles from home and had not got a
shot at single deer, though had
seen numbers Of them: but they were
always on the run. and at too grent a
distance. and all the tracks saw
showed that they had scarcely walked
during the day. was then a young
hunter, but have since learned that
this animal is always on the move.
and generally runs through windy
days. probably from the apprehension
Of wolves, which follow its scent thro'
the snow.
At length arrived q. large cedar
swamp. on the edge of Which I was
struck by the singular appearance Of
large stub. twenty-five or thirty feet
high, with its bark of. From it's
scratched surface. had no doubt Il
was climbed by raccoons or martens.
which. probably. had den In II. as.
from its appearance. | judged II was
hollow. The stub. at It's base, might
have been seven or eight feet through,
but eight or ten feet higher up It's
size was much diminished. so that |
could grasp sufficiently to ascend Il
and ascertain VIII Il was within. M3
gun and great coat were deposited in a
secure place. and, being an expert
climber, l soon gained the top. As l
anticipated. found the stub was hol-
low. the aperture being about two and
half feet in diameter. The DAY. you
will observe, was dark and cloudy.
and. looking down the hollow. fan.
cicd could see the bottom at no
great distance. but having nothing 10
pu, 10 to ascertain its depth. l conclu-
ded would try to touch the bottom
with my feet. l. therefore. placed
myself in the hole. aud lowered my
self gradually. expecting. every mo-
ment. that my feet would come 10
contact with some animal or the foot
Of the hollow. but. feeling nothing.
| unthinkingly continued letting my
self down. until my head and hands
and my whole person were completely
In the centre OF the stub.
At this moment sudden and
strange fear came over me; know not
from what cause, for am cot natu-
rally tin,id: II seemed to affect me
with sense Of sufiocation. such as Is
experienced in dreams under the In.
nuence Of the nightmare. Rendered
desperate by my feelings, l made a
violent effort TO exlricate myself. when
the edges OF the wood 10 which l was
holding on, treachorously gave way.
and precipitated me TO the bottom OF
the hole, which / found extended to a
level with the ground. cannot Who'll.
ly account for II, but probably from
the erect position in which my body
was kept In 70 erect a position 10
which my body was necessarily kept
In 80 narrow a tube, and my landing
on my feet on bed Of soft moss. dried
leaves and other elastic substances, /
sustained little or no injury from 30
great fall; nor were my clothes but
little destroyed In my descent. not.
withstanding the straightncss Of the
passage. owing TO the smoothness OF
the surface from long use by tho On.
imals ascending and descending TO
and from their den--for den l found
Il TO be-.
After recovering from my fright I
had time 10 examine the interior. All
was dark. and putting out my hands
10 feel my way, they came In contact
with the cold nose Of some beast. and
then with the fur. which I Immediate
ly knew was that Of half grown cub
or young bear. Continuing 10 exam.
Inc. I ascertained that there were
three or four other animals. which.
aroused by the noise made In my do.
scent. came around smolled Of me.
utterlng q moaning noise; taking me.
at hrst. for their dam, but after a little
examination. snufiing and snortIng ~
II alarmed. they quietly betook them
TO their couch on the moss, and left
me TO my own troubled aud gloomy
reflections. / knew they we're too
young to do me any injury. but with
that knowledge came the dreadful GER
tainiy that the mother, whose premis-
cs had so heedlessly invaded. wrs
quite n different personage. aud that
my lie would terminate In q very
short period after shs arrived. as ar
rive she certainly would, before many
hours could pass over my head.
The interior Of the den grew more
visible after my eyes became accus.
toned to the darkness. and. aided by
little light from the top. / discover.
ed that the den was circular. and on
the ground was FIVE or six In diane
ter. ;,s circumference diminishing. Mt
the high. Of seven or eigh. feet, TO a
diameter OF less than three. owing TO
the peculiar formation Of the trunk
All my efforts to reach tho narrow
part Of the hollow. In the hope Of
working my way out. as q chimney.
sweep might have done. u that had
been practicable. were frui,less. My
escape was. therefore. impossible
To cut hole. through The tree sum
cicnt to let my body out. with q small
pocket knife. the only one ! had.
would have been the work CT weeks,
and even months. ~. from the exam.
ination | had made Of the exterior. l
knew that II could not DO less than a
foot thick. The knife was tae only
weapon possessed. and one hug from
my tremendous adversary would do