Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-12

ptThluEG NiNAl ANSANN9 SSAS"t
makes 1t feel colder than If one
were in the Arctic regions.
Such, then, was the night upon
which | left camp to try my exper-
iments of bear-stalking.
An hours rapid walking brought
me in the vicinity of my hunting
ground aud, after cropping about
for a short while, | found the $50.
lated bowlder. Getting under
shelf r Of the rock, | took \ stiff
draught from a small flask ofwhis.
ky that | had brought with me, and
leaning my rife against the sup
port, prepared TO watch the advent
OF bruIn.
Al midnight, a faint, uncertain
light stole over the scene, heralding
tie rising moon and as the orb
rose higher aud higher, a few starg-
Cling beams occasionally found
their way below, through riffs in
the still scudding clouds.
my watch was q long and tedious
one. The locality was inexpressi-
bly, lonely the surge Of the wind
amid the breaks and chasms Of the
hills beyond; the distant bark Of
the coyote, occasionally varied with
deeper note OF the mountain wolf
oil conspired to render the sur
~rouudings anything but pleasant.
The feeling Of loneliness is some.
times the hardest Of all Others 10
bear.
Despite these depressing infu-
ences, however, | maintained my
post, and the hours drew slowly
by.
had fallen into q halt dOze. not
outstanding the intense cold, when
suddenly something, | know not
what, caused ME TO awake with a
start,to full consciousness and hast.
lily glsnceingacrOss the stream,I saw
my game standing q few feet from
the mouth of the cavern, upon
fat level rock, intently regarding
me with a comical look Of surprise.
At the right moment, seemingly
intent to favor me individually
the moon broke full and clear, from
the heavy curtain, and shone, with
almost MONDAY brightness, over
the scene.
AS l reached for my rife, and
rapidly brought It TO my face, the
bear turned broadsido on, evident.
~ with the intention of gaining biz
covert and thus exposed his most
vital part to my aim.
fired with 9 quick sight, and u
the smoke Of my piece drifted, ]
saw the bear rolling and clawing
the hard rocks in his death.agony
the while growing fercely will
impOtent rage and pain.
And just here happened one Of
those seemingly unimportant oC.
currences, upon which sometimes,
however, our fortune, for life OF
death, may turn.
In my eager haste TO get at, and
bleed my prize, l neglected to re.
load and leaning the empty rife
against the rock, / spraug across
the narrow stream, and in an in.
slant had put the finishing touches
TO the animal.
So far, then, l was successful
but now 10 get the bear TO camp
TO leave him, aud return for the
mules aud assistance, would simply
be 10 give the coyotes a free ban.
quet.
A moments thought determined
me 10 secure as much of the choice
part rs | could carry and trust to
luck for the remainder. Il took
but O few moments to remove the
hide from the hind quarters; and
then seyering these 1T the lOins, |
dragged the heavy weight to where
my rife stood, securing which |
began tue laborious task Of reach
ing camp with my load.
For q couple OF miles ! managed
pretty well, but after that the load
became more aud more heavy, or ]
became more aud more exhausted,
until finally, after q longer stretch
without rest than usual, | threw
the meat upon the earth aud deter
mined 10 await the approach OF
dawn.
The spot where | CHANGED 10 stop
was at the foo, of huge, dead OAK,
whose skeleton arms reached far up
into the night, overriding with not
a leaf or growing twig TO show that
anything Of life remained.
seeking the south side Of the
truak, | drew closely to it, and with
a much resignation as | could
muster for the occasion, prepared
to wait until day should bring the
Ie!l0ws IN search Of me.
How long | remained thus l
know not, but presently l was
aroused from a halt nap by the long,
dreary howl OF what | knew, by It's
volume, TO be the gray.wolf; this
was quickly followed by another,
and another, aud still another, un.
Il! ] could hear them yelping in
iul. chorus, away to the southwark.
Gradually the sounds drew near
or, and not only so but seemingly
increasing in numbers. Now
could distinguish tho shrill, sharp
yelp Of the Coyote mingling, when
all at once, The reason of this IN
usual pandemonium flashed across
my mind.
The wolves had scented nv game.
the remainder OF the bear, and were
now lighting over the tempt.
ing morse. Still no feeling of un.
ea'iness intruded itself, for | did
not know these fellows as well as |
10 now. More than vexed at the
loss was sustaining, | bestowed
upon the brutes a hearty analhema,