The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-06-19
A Run for Life.

ifom the pen in which he was iattening them
for the autum. The pen was built ht the
base Of high hill which bid II from the
house, and just on the edge Of an upland jun
gle or thicket Of underground, which extent
ed along TO the nearest spur Of some neigh.
boring hills, which Wellsd upward 10
height almost emitting them to be called
mountain range. Surprised nt the loss Of bis
hogs, Mr.. Rodney determined 10 keep strict
watch, aud, II possible, detect the depredator
upon his property.
One morning, just at dawn ofday, he heard
the squeal Of hog In the direction Of his
pen. spdnging out Of the bed and passing
on his garments, he hurried TO the rescue Of
the squealing porker. As soon Aa he came
In sight Of the pen, he saw huge bear, with
hog In his mouth and fore paws, leisursly
retreating 10 the thieket Returning 70 tho
house for HE gun, trusty rife, OF large bore
he soon came back 10 hspen. The bear and
hog had both disappeared,
Mr.. liodneyi who was bold adventurous
man, Of high courage and great physical
strength at once determined upon pursuit
The blood Of the itutllated hog making -
distinct mark Upon the Bround, made Il mn
easy matter to follow the TRACK Of its eaptor.
Entering the thicket and going forward
short distance, Mr. Rodney saw the bear
some forty or'Ghy steps in advance Of him,
deliberately munehing the hog for his morn.
ing meal To raise bis rife, aim and Rrc,
were the work Of but moment. The bear
fell, apparently iifeless, In his traekS, at the
crack oi the gun.
| Feeling certain, from the range Of his aim
and the plump fall Of the bear, that he was
killed outright, Mr.. Rodney approached with
tho view Of taking a nearer look at his bulky
proportions. When within few Yards Of
where he lay, the bear, 10 the great surprise
OF the planter, rose slowly up, looked hercely
back, gave deep cultural growl, and started
! forward in the direction Of the neighboring
hills.
| Mr.. Rodney seeing the euplous discharge
Of blood from the wound made by his ball,
and observing that The bear staggered in his
gait, followed on aOer him, expecting soon to
ace him falling. The bear moved slowly, but
steadily on, never once looking back at his
pursuer, hut keeping up low moan or growl
indicative Of pain and anger, or Of both com
bined. Having reached the base OF the
stcepest and highest hill in the group, he be-
gan the ascent with a still slower pace and
deeper growls. Mr.. Rodney was only few
PAGES in the rear, and gaining upon him
every moment. Al last when near the SUM-
NIT Of the hill, he came quite up with the
bear, whose s,eps, staggering and slow, Srem
cd faltering with fatigue and loss Of blood
Thinking that only slight push was needed
to bring him TO the ground, Mr., Rodney
gnxe The hear keycrr punch With the butt
end Of his gun.
The blow sccmedNo recall both strength
and spirit to the now enraged and desperate
beast Turning quickly and sharply round,
he stood within feE feet of his pursuer,
upon whsm he manifeslly purposed to make
an immediate attack.
Mr.. Rodney comprehended the full peril
OF his position in a moment He had no
weapon but his gun, which he had not re- 1
loaded ancr the first discharge To defend
himself with it by blows was utterly impossi-
Bile, considering the size and massive weight
Of the bear. The only hope of escape was
retreat down the hill, which he began at once
with rapid strides
The bear, accelerated in his speed by the
momentum Of the descent, and perhaps also |
by pain and anger, rushed headlong after
him. From crag to rock, ard from rock to
crag, the planter leNped with an agility and |
speed incredible alrnost TO himself Well
he knew that once within the reach of those |
terrible jaws gaping to rend and deyour him |
his wife would be a widow and his children |
iatherless, before he could commend himself
and them to tho mercy of Heaven in a
prayer.
Every moment seemed to increase the speed |
and fierceness OF the bear. When the chase
began he was only few feet in the rear of
The planter. At ttfc bottom of the HILL which |
they had now reached, the distance between
them was lessened by nearly half
Mr.. Rodney, although hard pressed and
with no time TO lose, ventured to cast ono
backward glance at his pursucr The sight
was enough to strike even his stout heart
with terror. The tongue Of the bear, red
and swollen, protruded from his mouth
white foam covered his lips; the teeth, sharp
and shining, were visible In the jaws open
already for the seizure of his victim the ears
were thrown bnek close to the head like
those Of an angry. horse, aud stream of fire
hentuGh 70 iaSre Gnm the Anckets Of the slar.l
ing eyebullS. Escape, longer than for few
seemed now utterly impossible, 7 A
distance of more than mile lay between
the planter and his house. Thick bushes q
and brambles impeded every foot of ths way
ns far as the hog-pen, near which he must i,
pass to emerge from the jungle in the di. a