The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-05-06

tnOu8nC IL not only III very DaQ taste, but
criminally imprudent, for man in such a
wretched state of health as | was at that
moment, to be standing away out there on
the mountain side, without a physician, or
qulnine, or bottle of French brandy.
Whilst Illuminating upon my condition,
and the more serious probabilities of kill
ing bear or bear killing me-in which
| had Il very decided choice, notwithstand-
ing the maxim that sit is bad rule that
don't work both ways'-I heard the dis
tant bay Of Wilburn's dogs and all at once
the skin of my head felt as tight as a raw
hide upon banjo, and | felt as if l could
never shut my eyes again, tho l never had
better reason for keeping them as wide open
as possible. One of Little Joshua Bonds
quaint sayings flashed across my mind at
the instant, and it would have been hap
Ply change of situation at the moment, to
have been at the bottom of old ocean I'M
der an oyster-shell. Looking and listen
ing with the most intense interest, | heard
the tread of something coming that seemed
to be as heavy as the march ofan elephant,
and you may rest assured / felt as if had
taken new lease of life when the formida-
BILE animal proved to be a gr0u'd-sQuarel
Whilst wondering how so small an animal
could make so loud a racket, heard the
report Of Wilburn's rifle away down in the
jungle, and my heart raised in thankful
ness with the hope that there was one
bear less to make a dinner off my bones
that day. Another report soon followed
which instead of relieving my anxiety,
suggested the apprehension that Wilburn,
instead Of killing bear, had probably on
ly wounded one, and if so, and he should
come across me on his way to the cliffs
above, had better be preparing my nerves
fora steady aim, or saying my prayers, orper
haps both. With this unwelcome thought
intruding itself, grasped my rifle with a
tenacity that an earthquake could scarce
| ly have shaken loose, and with determi-
nation that nothing but desperation could
have impaired, and awaited the coming of
the last thing wanted to see on the face
of this green sarth-the very bear l had
gone out voluntarily and purposely to kill
While standing thus with one foot rather
unSteadily planted in trent, the breech OF
the rifle to my shoulder, and my eye run
ming along the barrel, hand was laid
upon my shoulder from behind, and n
voice, which at once recognized as Will
burns, said, in the sweetest tones to which
l had ever listened, 'stop, friend, hadn't
you better spring your triggers and cock your
gun before you shoot ?--but you needn't
waste your ammunition, I've killed two
bears down in the laurel, and there isn't
another within ten miles of here !"
If l ever felt happier in my life l have
forgotten the time, place and circumstan-
ces; my knees became firm and steady;
was all right about the wristbands; the
cold sweat had vanished like the dew Of
the morning; l could open and shut my
eyes with the facility of frog, and have
not felt symptom of fever and ague from
that day to this.
And now, Messrs. Editors permit me to
say in conclusion, if you or any Of your
readers imagine that you would have done
better than did, come out here and try
it, and if as candid as l have endeavored
to be, you will he prepared to write the
counterpart of my first and last bear-hunt
in the Iron Mountain.
While my hand is in upon the subject Of
hunting, may give you, in my next, an
account of thrilling deer-hunt with Col
Addison White, of Huntsville, Ala, in
which acquitted myself about as credi-
tably as in the bcar-hunt with Wilburn
Waters.
am yours, most respectfully,
G. b. G..
4b;no5on Va. April %. 1870.