Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-12

the hand, aud we watched tor the crea.
ture TO show himself, as he shortly did
by moving towards the creek, where the
grass, in spots, was quite thin | could
now soc his head and shoulders. and.
whispered, "It's arl'-at the same
time | drew my rife to my shoulder
and was just on the point of pulling
trigger, when that inevitable word
"Hold" don't shoot! ats sIhompson's
black hog!' came like an electro shock
to me from the lips of Uncle Ned. I
lowered my rifle, and the creature had
by this time passed into thick clump of
grass near the creek, and was out of
sight. was vexed to think | had been
so fooled by Tnompson's bla,k hog, and
let off little of my wrath by uncere-
moniously demanding of Uncle Ned
"What right has Randall Thompson to
keep hog that looks SO much like n
bear and let him run at large TO fool hon.
est hunters with ~ had partly turned
away from the game TO look at Uncle
Ned while making these boisterous re-
marks, which he took no notice of what.
ever, but kept his keen grey eye fixed en-
the clump of grass where he last saw The
black hog Ny speech had caused the
animal to halt for an instant, and then
with snort he bounded TO the opposite
bank of the creek, and quick rs. thought
"Old Belts" was up and spoke her
piece, and with an angry growl, the
"black hos"-now n big black 'bsar and
no mistake into the tall grass
on the opposite side. which waved to the
right and left as it gave way under
bruins rush from the scene Of action.
The bear passed over hilIock and out
of sight. 'i..f'
/ was now more vexed than ever, and
although not utterirg n word, in my
heart | was cursing Ttompsou's black
hog, for had not been in fear of send
ing the old porker unfattened to his
doom, | should have known the black
thing before me was bear, and sent
bullet to its heart AS il was | believed
the bear had been hit by bucksh1t from
Uncle Ned's gun; still Of what account
was bucks!Iot or two in bears hide.
Just at this point of my revcrie l heard
noise Cunning fom some monster in
distress. in the direction of the bears
trail. whats thst?" said |. ATS the
bear" said Uncie Ned. Il thought so!
he's carried off some Of my lead; l
thought SOL" repeated Uncle Ned ex-a
ultingIy. swell have him vet; Just
heal him! he must lie hurt bad" Then
all was still for moment; but soon
terrible fit of coughing and moaning
followed. We were now on bis trail
''See Eere. Uncle Ned; blood to tn.
right and blood to the left. on the grass"
Yes, | see; frothy blood. too; that
blood came from his mouth; hurt in
wariIy; probably his lungs. Old Belts
never fools me. NEVER! Well either fad
him dead or freed, shortly" And sure
enough, just over the hillock we found
poor Bruin hanging TO the body of an
oak tree, some ten or twelve feet from
the ground. His strength was failing
him; he could climb NO further. One
of his monstrous fore paws was relaxing
its hold. He let 90 with that, and the
paw aud arm dropped by his side. His
head swung To one side, bet he still hung
ty the other paw, supported 10y his hind
legs which were clasped around the tree.
Soon the remaining paw let go its held.
then tumbling down with a ;hunp that
jared the ground, the bear lay stretched
and lifeless mt tho foot of the tree.
This was the largest bear that ever
saw; but like Thnmpson's hog it was
Thin in flesh. On a post naortens exam
ination, we found that but one of The
nine buckshot had hit the bear. but that
one had cut the large artery leading to
the right lobe Of the bears lungs.