Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-03-04
Kit Carson with the Bears.

The following thrilling adventure with
grizzly bears is from recently published
work, entitled the " Life and Adventures Of
Kit Carson, the Famous BackwoodsIhan Of
the Rocky Mountains"
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 leaped from his horse,
giving it in care of one of the men. With
his rifle, he then started in pursuit of game
for supper He walked on about one mile
| from camp, and there came upon the fresh
tracks of some elk. following up the trail
he discovered the game grazing on the side
! of hill. In the neighborhood of these
animals there were some low and craegy
pine trees. Moving along With great care.
he finally gained the cover of the trees.
which brought him in close proximity to
the elk, and within certain range of his RI
fle. This care was the more necessary as
his party had been without meat for some
time, and began to be greatly in need there
of. These ever-wary animals saw or scent
ed him, or at any rate, became conscious of
approaching danger from some cause. be-
fore he could reach the spot from which he
desired TO take his aim. They had com
menced 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 a bullet after the
largest and fattest of the noble game before
him. He had wisely allowed for the first
leap for his shot caught the noble animal
in mid air, and brought him to the earth.
writhing in his death agony, with fearful
wound through his heart and lungs from
which there was no escape. One culver
ran through the frame of the beautiful ami
NAL, when he breathed his last The echo
ing sound of the rifle had hardly died away.
to which the true hunter ever listens with
unfeigned pleasure as the sweetest music on
his ear, whenever he has seen thar his game
is surely within his grasp, when the last
faint melody was broken in upon and com
pletely lost in terrific roar from the woods
directly behind him. Instantly turning his
head 10 note the source of the sound, the
meaning and cause of which he well knew
by his experienced woodman's ear educat-I
ed until its nicely was truly wonderful, he 1
saw two huge and terribly angry grizzly |
bears. As his eye rested upon these un- |
welcome guests, they were bounding to.
wards him, their eyes flashing fiery passion.
their pearly teeth glittering with eaeerness
to mangle his flesh, and their monstrous /
fore-arms hung with sharp, bony claws,
ready and anxious to hug his body in
close and most loving embrace. There was
not much time for Xii to scratch his head
and cogltate. In fact, one instant spent in
thought then would have proved his death
without hope of repreve.-
Messrs. Bruin evidently considered their
domain most uhjustly intruded upon. Kit
required no second thought to perceive that
the monarchs of the American forest were
angry, and were fast nearing
him with their mighty stride.
Dropping his rifle, the leaden bullet of
which would have been worth to him its
weight ir gold if it could by some magic
wand have been transferred from the heart
Of the elk back into its breech, he bounded
from his position IN close imitation cf the
elk, but with better success. The treSs Il
be hoped and prayed, as he fairly few over
the ground, with the bears in hot chase, for
one quick grasp at sturdy sapling. By
good fortune. or special Providence, his
hope, or prayer, was answered. Grasping
a lower limb, he swung his body up into
the first tier of branches just as passing