River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-26
The Bear that stole Our Venison--An
Adirondack story.

WlnuIall, as IL is called, where W.
had been berrying. 1t was nearly sun
down, and bidding Charlie draw some
fresh water from the spring, turned
my attention to the fire, while vii
opened the oamp-chest, produced the
frying-pan, tin plates, cups, knives ant
forks, and began to set the table foi
our evening meal.
"What's for supper Fern cried
Charlie as he approached, carrying @
pail of water.
"Why, venison, ceffee, and potatoes
Isuppose,n / answered Evil you be
good enough to cut the meat ~
Certainly he replied, taking the
frying pan from the ground and draw.
ing his knife, where is it?"
" Up at the spring, think, shouted
Will from the woods close at hand,
whittier he had gone in search Of q
table leg to supply the place of one
which had been broken the day before.
I" 1t was put there TO keep fresh, you
know, " he added.
Charlie turned toward little path
that, running for a few rods along the
river bank, led to the clear, cool SPRING
where we obtained our water. In 4
moment his voice came sounding back
"Where, Will2 There's no meat here ;
at least | can't fluid any.
Will, who had succeeded in guitinp
himself as to a table leg and was now
attempting to put it in its place,
dropped his Ratchet and ran toward
the spring. | heard the voices of my
r,
few moments, and then viii shouted
out: Fern, that venison must be
down there. Look about, will yQu9
l don't think-oh,' | remember where
1T is J" aud he came tumbling through
the bushes, and turned toward tall
pine that stood like an ever -watchful
sentinel just at the lower limit of our
camp. 81 hung it ON this tree this
morning, aud-but it's gone! And
see here, boys, some animal has taken
it; look, here are the tracks, Oh,
what big onesl A bear, / do be
Heve Oh, lUuk heroii
Charlie and myself hurried up.
True enough, the venison was gone,
taken by some four-footed thief too,
for there was the track plain enough in
the soft earth before u. The venison
had been hung on a stout peg driven
into the tree; this, with a scrap of
meat sticking to it, still remained, bent
downward by some strong pull, while
the bark of the pine was roughened
and broken by the marks of claws, for
the meat had been hanging nearly six
feet high, and the animal, whatever it
was, had to spring to get at it.
We stood gazing at the scene of our
loss for few moments and specializing
upon its cause. Probably said
Charlie at length, "sOme animal,
either bear or panther, wandered
down to the river to drink this after
noon, and, attracted 10y the smell of
the meat, came up here aud stole it in
our absence. But come, the potatoes
are done, aren't they, Ferng and the
coffee boiled, tool Let's have supper,
what there is of it; we can talk the
matter over better after satisfying our
hunger
Yes, the supper was ready; and re
turning to our table, still lacking the
fourth leg, we placed the eatables upon
upon it, aud began our meal. Ere it
was finished, the light dip of paddle
came sounding TO us from around the
bend OF the river, and in few moments
Gray Tarcome, a gentleman who was
camping half mile or more above us,
gracefully shot his little canoe ashore,
and springing out, babe us hearty
Good evening as lie approached the
table.
Greeting him, we offered seat at
our board, which, however, he de.
clined, having just eaten, and seated
himself on a log near the fire. After a
few general remarks, Charlie related to
our visitor the story of our loss. Tar.
come listened attentively, and, having
examined the tree, gave it as his opin.
ION that bruin was the cause of oui
trouble. "And now" said be, Twill
offer you piece OF adyice-set a tran
Tor the thief. That is, hang another
piece OF meat up there, do without a
fire tonight, and keep watch. You
may &c. shot"
"a capital idea, answered VIII
but we haynt got the venison.
Easily remedied. We have two
quarters mp at camp, and nothing will
please me better than to have one used
IN this way. Will you favor me by
using one?n
With pleasure we al replied
and Charlie, moving toward our boat
added 81 will accompany Won. M
Tarcome, on your return, and bring the
meat back"
-" Let us away, then, at once. - re-.
Piled that gentleman good NIGHT
boys; | shall be over early to loar9 ~
the success OF our plan. Come. Charlie.
good night = and, utterly refusing IA
prolong his visit, with wave of the
hand lie was of.
Will and ] sat listening 10 the auicl
strokes Of their paddles dying away ON
the evening air, and then. lighting our
pipes, silently enjoyed them until our
comrade's return. Upon that the
meat was again hung against the tree.
the double barrel heavily loaded with
buckshot. the fire extinguished. and
having divided the night into watches.
,Will, whose turn came first, seated
himself on a log few steps from the