The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-01

lure OF yesterday. The balmy air, that
gave tone to every nerve and luxury to
every sense; the rich low.land growth.
sending forth from jessamine and mag
nolla the perfume for which my old wife
used to pay 81. so a bottle, and be satis
fed with third-rnte imitation; the
stately steps of our blooled horses. as
we now and then broke into gentle
canter; the coursing Of the dogs, who,
free from leash, roamod through the
woods at will. stirring up the smaller
game, and making the neighborhood
musical with their glad notes; the Jolly
cachinatlons of the old time servants.
who, while not forgetful of the homage
they owed their master, still enjoyed O
freedom from restraint and an equality
with him that would have made m Aho.
lltionist look in wonderment on the
spectacle. These and O thousand other
details come back to me with q power
that sends gush of young blood to
every microscopic extremity of my san.
guineous system. We reached our hunt.
ing ground about Q o'clock in the day,
!unched, loaded our rifles, and in on
hour more were ready to "take to the
bush."
Now" said tho Colonel, .'if you are
not familiar with the bear, be careful.
Don't take him into close quarters. Put
ball through his heart before he can
reach yon with his paw; but if you fail
to do this, stand not on the order OF
your going-leavel And, by the way"
he added, "whatever you do, save tho
dogs"
1 knew as much about bear hunting as
did about elephants; had seen the
peast tame In menageries, and once or
twice encountered live one; but no
rit1e-shot OF mine had ever vet pene.
trated the shaggy coat of Brnin, and
my ambition was on edge to bu gratified.
Besides, 1 had just come from "the
Plains, and felt big with the reputation
which all hedglings innately enjoy who
have knocked down dozen or twenty
buffalo Well, we separated and got to
work, l taking the stand which the Colo
mel had assigned to me. to await his
movements and those of the dogs, who
were to drive up the game while he made
circuit. Whittier he went or what lie
did, | have no knowledge. I only re-
member that for nearly two hours wait.
ed patiently, listening to every sound,
trembling with expectation, and brave
down to the pulp of my index finger,
that rested Oh the trigger of my trusty
rifle. In fact. had begun to grow
dreamy. and my thoughts were wander
ing among tho scenes of home life fur
Eastward. Suddenly, there was long
halloo-a shot, and then another The
dogs we're baying, and evidently in full
pursuit OF game. What it was, whether
OF deer or bear, Of course, I had no
means OF knowing; but instinctively
ielt that 1t was coming toward the little
branch whereon had been stationed.
1t was question of less than five mi.
nutes, but in that interval enjoyed the
keen zcst of sportsmans expectation.
1 had 1T settled in my mind where was
to send my rihe-ball, where I would
bleed my trophy when down, aud what
would 40 IN various triumphant oontin-
gencles that were pictured iu my mind.
But, kiasl the schemes of mon ''aft gang
agley." Bruin-for it was fuIl.sized
beast OF that nomenclature--made his
appearance with rush, tearing through
the oane-brake, hound hanging to one
ear, and the pnck close on his heels. r
raised my rifle and fired, and have long
been satisfied that the bullet sped ut
least fifteen feet above its mark. at any
ratio, it didn't hit him, while the sound
of the discharge served to draw his at
tention to new and unexpected adver-
sary, and that was your humble servant.
Despite the fact that he carried the
weight of dog and bullet from the
gun OF Gen. Hampton, he turned his
blood-red eyes on me, and with On ugly
expression around his mouth, which L
regarded at the time as physiognomically
dangerous. made directly for tho position
l occupied. at the samo instant, brace
of hounds, God bless 'em! dashing
through the cane with glad yelp and u
bound, seized the benr, ono by the
launches aud another by the flank. The
digression saved me. had no other re.
source than to take to tree or the bush.
never was good ut climbing, and chose
the latter, plunging pell-mcll into the
cane, with an impetus like unto that OF
demoralized locomotive. Fortunately, 1
struck path-one of those narrow
openings which arc sometimes worn on
the Mississippi bottoms by animals MAX
ing their way to water. But, horror OF
horrorsl I had not proceeded fifty yards
before l heard close behind tho sound of
the pursuing bear. Frantic with tho
pain Of the chawing bites every instant
penetrating his flesh, and unable to
shake oil the faithful dogs, Bruin had
doubtless taken one Of his old routes,
and lnStinctiYelY hOpel to hrnsb or shnka