Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-02-09
KIT-KARSON'S ADVENTURES WITH
REARS

ty had gone into camp. Kit, having fingered
somewhat behind, suddenly rode into the
camp ground and leaped from his horse, giving
it IL care of one of the men With his rifle, !
he then started il pursuit of game for supper.
He walked on about mile from the camp,
and there came upon the fresh track of scme |
elk. Following up the trail, he discovered |
the game grazing on the side of a hill. In !
theaneis hborhrcd of the animals there were !
sorleefsow aud esaggy@ pine-tfees. Moving /
along with care, he finally gained the cover I
of the trees, which brought him in close prox-
Unity to the elk and within certain range of
his rife. This care was the more necessary |
as his party had been without meat diet for
some time and began to be greatly in need
thereof These ever wary animals saw, or
scented him; or, at any rate, became concious
of approaching danger from some cause, be-
fore he coald reach the spot from which he
desired to take his aim. They had commen-
ced moving; and IN another instant would
have bounded away out Of all reach of his
rife. His eye and piece, however, were
too quick for them; for, bringing his piece
into position and without dwelling upon his
aim, he sped bullet after the largest and fat
test of the noble game before him. He had
wisely allowed for the first leap, for bis shot
caught the noble animal in mid air and brouht
him to the earth writhing in his death ago
ny with fearful wound through the heart
and lungs, from which there was no escape
One culver ran throus the frame of the beau
tiful annual. when he breathed MS last, The
echoing sound of the rifle shot had hardly
ems with unfeigned pleasure as the sweetest of
music on his ear, whenever be has seen that
his game is surely within his grasp, the last
faint melody was broken in upon aud com
pletely lost in a terrific roar from the woods
directly behind him Instantly turning his
head to note the source of this sound, the
meaning and cause of which he well knew by
his experienced woodman's ear, educated until
its picty was truly wonderful, he saw two
huge and terribly angry grizzly bears. As
his eye frat rested upon these unwelcome
guests, they were bounding toward, him,
their eyes flashing firery passion. their pearly
teeth glitteriug with eagerness to mangle his
flesh, and their monstrous fore arms, hung
with sharp, bony claws, ready and anxious to
hug his body IN a close and most loving en-
brace There was not much time for Kit to
scratch Lis head and cogitate. In fact, one
Instant spent III thought then would have pro
we'd his death warrant without hope Of
prieve Messrs. Bruin evidently considered
their DOMAIN most uDjustly intruded upon.
| The gentle elk and deer mayhap were their
dancing boys, and like many pretty king in
savage land, they may have 6iDed late and
were now eujoying scenic treat of their bal
lei troupe At all events. Kit required no
second thought to perceive that the monarchs
of the American forest unappeasably angry,
and were fast nearing him with mystic striie
| Dropping his rifle, the little leadcn bullet of
| which would now have been worth to him its
weight in gold if it could by some magic wand
| been transferred from the heart of the elk back
! into it's breech, he bounded from. his position
| in close imitation of the elk, but with better
success The trees! he hoped and prayed as
he few over the ground with the bears hot in
chase. for one quick grasp at sturdy sapling
| BY good fortune, or special Providence, his
hope or prayer was answered. Grasping a
lower limb, ne swung his body up into the
first tier of branches just as passing Bruin
brushed against Que of his legs Bears climb
trees, and Kit Carson was not ignorant of the
fact Instantly drawing his keen edged hun
ting knife, he cut away for dear life at thick
short branch. The knife and his energy con-
quered, the cutting just Messrs Bruin had
gathered themselves up for ascent, pre-
ceeding on their part to which MIR. Carson
would not give assent. Mr.. Carson was well
acquainted with the Messrs Bruins pride in
|
sharp raps made with the severed branch up,
on the noses of the ascending bears, while
they fairly made them to howl with pain and
rage, caused them hastily to beat retreat
This scene of ascending, getting their noses
tickled, and again descending bowling with
pain and rage, now kept Mr. Karson and
Messrs. Bruin actively busy for some time
The huge monsters and monarchs of the
mountains were determined not to give it w
so. Such full aud fair chase, and to bt
beaten by simple white man on their OWL
domainl This evidently CALLED their sensa
tive natures. II is true the roaring of th'
bears in his rear had stimulated Mr.. Carson
in the race SO much so that he undoubtedl,
: ran at the top of his speed; and being natural
ly, as well as by long practice, very fleet o
foot, he managed to outstrip his pursuers IL
the race. L is true he had made short worl
of climbing the tree, and here again had yer.
nnocently beaten the bears at their owl
game, and one in which they took great pride
1t is more than probable that the bears wer
: in too good condition to run we'll. Had
! been early spring-time they would doubles
, have been much lower in flesh. That wa
= their own fault too; they should have know
that racing time cannot be made on high cor
o dition. After leaving their hiDornatln
I quarters they should have been less given
a sumptuous habit at the table.
Affairs were, however, by no manner
S means settled They had the daring tres
: passer on their domain treed. and almo
e within their reach; and, indeed, to keep o.
) of the way of their uncomely claws, Kit W
e obliged to gather himself up in the slnalle
,, space and cling to the topmost boughs. II
n bears now allowed themselves short resp
for breathing, during which they gave We
to their wrath in many shrill screeches,
Then they renewed their endeayHs to for