St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-07-02

spring at his adversary. But Jona-
than was too quick for him, and as he
lodged aside he saw lying upon the
snow a club about four feet long and
and nearly as large as his arm which
had fallen from dry beech. Selling
this, he struck his antagonist such
blow upon his side that it almost rails
ed him from the ground. This sudden
and unexpected movement seemed to
quite astonish" the bear, for turning
tail he commenced the ascent of the
opposite side of the ravine, and no soon-
er had he gained the summit, with his
pursuer close at his heels, than new
idea seemed to burst upon him for
throwing his nose between his fore
legs and doubling himself up like a
ball, he commenced rolling down the
steep descent. This mode of locomo-
ton proved much more rapid than
when the bear galloped upon all fours,
and when stump or a fallen tree
was approached he would suddenly
straighten himself out, gliding over it
like squirrel, and no sooner had he
landed upon the opposite side than he
was the same unshapen mass as be-
fore. This man9uvre gave the bear
the decided advantage, and Jonathan
began to fear that his game had
slipped his fingers" when he noticed
that little farther on would bring
them to the bottom of the gulf which,
if he could reach at the same time as
did the bear, he was in hopes that he
should be able to overpower him be-
fore the bear could again rally. He
accordingly exerted every muscle, and
by fearlessly leaping all distractions
that marked his path, he rapidly gain
ed on his coveted but dangerous prize.
Contrary to his expectations, the bear
no sooner gained the level and finding
himself overtaken, than he sprang to
his feet with the agility of cat, and
turning upon his pursuer he mani
tested the most unmistakable evidence
of desire for a " friendly hug" But
Jonathan was on his guard, an jump |
ing aside he dealt Bruin a stunning |
blow upon his muzzle which nearly |
brought him 10 the ground Recover
ing himself he again turned tail and |
made for small stream but two or
three rods distant. When Jonathan
saw this he thought that but single |
chance remained, for should the bear
succeed in gaining the opposite side,
he was convinced that he would
escape, because Of the inefficacy of the
weapons at his command, and his
strength was fast failing him so,
springing into the brook which he
gained in advance of the bear, and at
a little distance below him, he seized
stone, and as BruiD approached, he
hurled it with all the force he could
muster directly ut his head it missed |
his head but grazed his snout with
sufficient force to cause the bear to
drop his head upon his breast, when
he rushed blindly into the water. In
less time than it takes us to write it,
Jonathan sprang behind the bear, and
seizing him by the hind legs, he raised
them up till the paws were at about
the same elevation as his head. Now
commenced the fearful struggle, AS
long as the bear could be kept in this
inverted position it brought his muz-
zle under water, and thus Jonathan de-
termined to conquer by drowning
him +; but with that tenacity which
characterizes his species, and mad
dened by instructive fear, every mus
Gle seemed neryed for the contest for
life. At one moment he would drag
himself and his adversary till his fore
paws rested upon the bank, at the
next jonathan would again have him
midway of the brook, still holding his |
huge legs in his iron grasp. Thus did
they struggle Oh till at last the bear,
no longer able to hold out against his
mortal foe and his no less effective en-
emy, water-rolled over upon his side
and soon expired. Dragging him
ashore was soon accomplished, when,
the excitement over, our worn-out
hunter sank upon the ground exhaust
ed and powerless. Soon after Spencer
came up, and his astonishment at find
ing a large bear dead at his brothers
feet, was allayed only after Jonathan
had told him all the particulars Of the
encounter, and exhibited his "rept
garments" and a few scratches about
his legs that Bruin had inflicted in his
desperate struggles. The sun was
just sinking behind the western hills
when our weary hunters reached the
clearing" dragging homeward the
proceeds" of their days hunt
Uncle Jonathan still fingers with
us, hale and hearty old man, al
though the frosts Of three-score and
ten have rested upon him and fringed
his locks with silver and often during
the long winter evenings does he re-
peat the story Of his adventure with
the bear. Is.
n l. Ipp