The Shasta courier., 1866-02-24
Adventure with an American Bear.


Of Dobson-a resoute and athletic man.
Returning one evening from a prolonged
hunt after his vagrant cows-which. accord
ing to custom in new countries, had been
turned into the woods to procure their own
subsistence from the rank herbage of the
early summer-just before emerging from the
forest upon the clearing of his neighbor, the
late worthy Mr.. Sleeper, he saw a large bear
descending from sycamore, where he had
probably been in quest of honey A bear
ascends tree much more expertly than he
descends it, being obliged to come down
stern foremost. My friend Dobson did not
like to be joined in his evening walk by such
a companion, and without rejecting what he
should do with the "varmint' afterwards, he
ran up to the tree on the opposite side from
the animals body, and just on his reaching
the ground, seized him firmly by both tore
paws. Bruin growled and CRASHED his tusks,
but he soon ascertained that his paws were in
the grasp of paws equally iron strong as his
own. Nor could he use his hinder claws to
disembowel his antagonist, as the manner of
the bear is, inasmuch as the tree was between
them. But Dobson's predicament as he had
rather the most reason, was worse yet. He
could no more assail the bear than the bear
him. Nor could he venture to let go of him,
since the presumption was that Bruin would
not make a very gracious return for thus un-
tremendously taking him by the hand. The
twilight was fast deepening into darkness,
and his position was far less comfortable than
it otherwise would have been at the same
hour, surrounded by his wife and children at
the supper table, to say nothing of the gloo-
my prospects of the night Still, as Joe
Sleeper's house was not far distant, he hoped
to call him to his assistance. But his lungs,
fbonpb IF tba
the task although he halloed and bawled
the live long night, making the woods and
welkin ring again. he succeeded no better
than did Glendower of old, in calling spirits
from the vastly deep. 1t was a wearisome
night for Dobson such game of holdfast
had never been engaged in before. Bruin,
too, was probably somewhat wearied altho'
he could not describe his sensations in Eng.
lish. heetook the regular John Bull method of
making known his dissatsfacton-that is to
say, he growled incessantly. But there was
no let go in the csse. and Dobson was there
fore under the necessity of holding fast until
he felt as if his clenching and aching fingers
and the BEARS paws had grown together.
As daylight returned, and the smoke from
Mr.. Sleeper's chimney began to curl up
gracefully, though rather dimly, in the dis
tance, Dobson again repeated his cries for
succor, and his heart was soon gladdened by
the appearance of. his worthy but inactive
neighbor. who had at last been attracted by
the voice of the impatient sufferer, bearing an
axe upon his shoulder. Dobson had never so
much rejoiced at seeing Mr.. Sleeper, albeit
he was very kind and estimable neighbor
why don't you make haste, Sleeper, and
not be a lounging about at this rate, when
you see Christian in such kettle of fish as
this %
81 yum! Is that you, Mr.. Dobson, up
agin that tree thar? And was it you l hear'n
hallooing so last night? / guess you ought
to have your lodgings for nothing, if you
stood up agin that tree all night"
g It's no joke, though, can tell you, Joe
Sleeper. and if you had hold of the black
varmint, it strikes me that you d think that
you'd paid dear enough for it. But if you
heard me calling for help. and in the night,
why didn't you come and see what was the
trouble ?"
ooh, was just going tired to bed after
laying up log fence all day, and thought I'd
wait till morning, and come out bright and
airly. But if I'd known twas you"
"Known twas me-" replied Dobson, Bit
terly, "you knew twas somebody who had
flesh and blood, too good for these plaguy
varmints though and you knew there has
been smart sprinkle of bears about the set
Element all the spring.
s. Well, don't be in huff, Tommy. It's
never too late to.do good. So hold tight now,
and don't let the tarnal critter get loose while
split his head open"
No, no,'' said Dobson after holding
the beast all night, think 1 ought to have
the satisfaction of killing him. So you just
take hold of his paws here, and I'll take the
axe and let streak of daylight into his skull
about the quickest"
The proposition being fair one, Mr..
Sleeper was too reasonable a man to object
He was no coward either and thereupon
stepped up to the tree, and cautiously taking
the bear with both his hands, relieved honest
Dobson from his predicament. The hands of
the latter though sadly stiffened by the ten
acity with which they had been clenched for
80 many hours, were soon bran6ishing the
axe, and he apparently made all preparations
for giving the deadly blow-and deadly
would it have been had he struck; but, to- .
the surprise of Sleeper, he did not strike,
and, to his further CONSERVATION, Dobson
swung the axe upon his shoulder and march
ed away, whistling as he went, with as much
apparent Indifference as the other had shown
when coming to his relief.
1t was now Sleeper's turn to make the for.
est vocal with his cries. In vain he raved,
called and threatened. Dobson walked on
and disappeared, leaving as sad prospect
for his breakfast, as he himself had for his
supper. Hour after hour passed away, and
Sleeper still found himself at bo- peep with
Sir Bruin. In the course of the afternoon,
however, Dobson supposed that the lesson be
was teaching had been thoroughly learned by
his pupil. and when he thought the latter
would willingly forget the resentment for the
sake of succor, the sturdy Yankee returned,
and by single blow relieved both man and
bear from their troubles in the same instant.
Sleeper thought rather hard of Dobson for
some time, but no real breach of friendship
ensued, and, indeed, the two borderers be-
came afterwards better friends and neighbors
than before.