The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-07-28
VOL. 4
Kit CarsOns Bear Adventure.


Kit ClrsOns Bear Adventure.
Late one afternoon, just after the little
party had gone into camp, Kit, having lin
gered somewhat behind, suddenly rode into
the camp-ground, and leapcd from his horse,
giving it in care of one OF the men. With
his rife he then started in pursuit of game
for supper. He walked out about one mile
from the camp and then came upon the fresh
tracks Of some elk. Following up the trail,
he discovered the game grazing on the side
Of hill. In the lIeighborhood of the ami
mails there were some low and shaggy pine
trees. Moving along with great care, he f.
nally gained the cover of the trees, which
brought him in close proximity 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 grately in need thereof
These ever-wary ,nimals saw, or scented him
or at any rate, became conscious ofapproach
ing danger from some cause, before he could
his aim. They had commenced moving;
and in another instant would have bounded
away out of reach of his rife His eye and
piece, however, were to qnick for them
Bringing his piece into position, and without
dwelling upon aim. he sped n bullet through
the largest and latest Of the noble game,
before him. He had wisely allowed for the
first leap, for the shot caught the animal in
mid-air, and brought him to the earth.
The eciloing sound of the shot had hard,
.ly died away when Carson heard a terrific
roar from the woods directly behind him.
Instantly turning his head to note the source
of this sound, the meaning and cause which
he well knew by his experienced wocasnians
ear, he saw two huge and angry grizzly
Bears. As his eye first rested upon these
unwelcome guests they were bounding to-
ward him. Here was not much time for
Kit to scratch his head and cogtate. In
fact, one instant spent in thought then
would have proved his death-warrant, with
out hope Of a reprieve.
Messrs. Bruin evidently considered their
domain most unjustly intruded upon. The
gentle elk and deer mayhap were their dan
cling boys and girls; and, like m,ny
a petty king in savage land, they dined
late, and were now enjoying a senic treat
oftheir ballet troupe. At all events, Kit re
quired no second thought to perceive that
the monarchs of American forests We're I'M
pleasantly angry, and were fast nearing him
with rapid stride. Dropping his rifle, the
little leaden bullet OF which would now have
been worth to him its weight in gold, if it
could be by some magic wand have been
transferred from the heart of the elk back to
its breech, he bounded from his position, in
close imitation of the elks, but with better
success. The trees! he hoped as he fairly
flew over the ground, with the bears hot in
chase, for one quick grasp at a sturdy sap
ling.
BY good fortune, or special providence, his
hope was answered Grasping a lower limb,
he swung his body up into the first tier of
branches just as passing Bruin brushed
against one of his legs. Bears climb trees,
and Kit Carson was not ignorant of the fact.
Instantly drawing his keen edged knife, he
cut away for dear life at thick, short
branch. The knife and his enelg y conquered
the cutting just as Bruins g 'thered them
selves for the ascent, a proceeding on their
part to which Mr.. Carson would not give as
sent. Mr.. Carson was well acquainted with
the Messrs. Bruins pride in, and considera-
ton for, their noses. A few sharp raps
made with the severed branch upon the
noses of the ascending bears, while they fair
ly made them to howl with pain and rage,
caused them hastily to beat a retreat.
This scene ofascending getting their noses
tickled and again descending, bowling with
pain and rage, now kept Mr.. Carson and
Messers Bruin actively busy for some time.
The huge monsters and monarchs Of the
mountains were determined not to give it up
so. Such full and fair chase, and to be
beaten by simple whiteman on their own
domain! This evidently CALLED their sensi-
tive natures. 1t is true the roaring of the
bears in his rear had stimulated Mr.. Carson
in the race, so much so that he undoubtedly
ran at the top of his speed, and being natu-
rally, as well as by long practice, very fleet
of foot, he had managed to outstrip his pur-
suers. 1t is true he had made short work of
climbing the tree, and here again had very
innocently beaten the bears at their own
game, and one in which they took great
pride 1t lis probably that the bears were in
too good condition to run well. Had it been
in early spring time, they would have doubt
less been much lower in flesh. That was
their own fault too, they should have known
that racing-time cannot be made on high
condition. After leaving their alternating
quarters, they should have been less given
to sumptous habit at the table.
Affairs were, however, by no manner of
means settled. They had the daring tres
passer on their domain, freed, and almost