The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-28


Z the whole region. Though we were in tn
very heart OF the woods the trees in the v
cinity were stuned showing that the sol
= was shallow Still il was beautiful spo
u for our purpose, and Francois soon had a fir
blazing Antoine meantime cleaning 4 few o
the pigeons for the spit Our appctitcs wer
naturally sharp set, and the meal proved
J. famous one The cracking pinc.knot fir
glowcd in a crcvice of the rocks, and w
were in the full enjoyment of roast pigeon
when we were all startled by IA hoarse grow
in our rear. o.. .....-,~
"Des curses, The bears the bears shout
ed Francois, as we all lcapcd inNtinctiyely Il
our feet
Bears it was, sure enough, for coming do"r
upon us were four of the unCOuth brutcs
scrambling over the rocks in evidently an an
+, CRY mood. 1t was our fire that had done The
mischief Built in crcyiCc, as it had been
some of the smoke must have been driven by
an air current into some sort of subtcrranca1
cavern which formed the den of the bears
They had, no doubt, been smoked out by oul
fire. and were consequently hcrCc III thcli
blind rage 1t was decidedly an unpleasant
predicamcnt, four bears opposed to five men
one of them wholly unarmed, for Antoine had
Icarricd our provcndcr.
"To the trees get behind Il tree cried the
two guides nimbly setting the example as
they spoke. The Major and the Captain fol
lowed suit, while started off TO the left a
proceeding that nearly cost me my life. The
suddenncsS Of the alarm, and the unexpected
sight of the bears in such close proximity
completely unsettled my nerves, SO that |
scarcely knew what | was doing To the
horror of my more experienced companions,
| suddenly paused in my headlong flight, and
cmptied both of my barrels right into the face
of IL huge brute that had evidently selected
my unlucky self as its prize. or course the
hail of small shot only added to her rage, for
it was the mother of the family, though in no
way disabled so there | was face to face
with the animal, with an empty gun in my
hand, and utterly helpless for my compan-
ions could render me no immediate aid, hav-
ing their hands full in tending to the other
bears.
Francois opened the battle by firing at the
father of the group, and succeeded in rolling
him over. He had previously handed the OF
ticcrs some of his round bullets, and they
loaded rapidly, succeeding between them in
killing one of the small cubs, leaving his
companion to be attended to by the guide
Francois, while they ran to my assistance,
which | needed sOrely.
had, unfortunately, ran too far away from
Francois to receive my quota of the bullets,
and even if | had them, it is doubtful If l
could have made them available When
so rccklessly scattered my pigeon shot in the
face of the She bear, turned and ran for the
nearest tree. 1t proved to be a mere sapling
compared with the others, so | at once started
for another and stouter stem, hoping to gain
its branches in time to avoid my pursuing an
tagonist
Alas my foot caught in projecting root,
al Il, I III
felt the bear seize me in terrific hug, her
hind feet tearing away in an awful manner at
my stout leather lcggins. 1t was "a terrible
moment, for death seemed imminent, while
he reports Of my companions guns rang in
ny ears with singular distinctness. The pain
If the bears hug was a suifoCating one, and
could feel her huge claws Juggling at my
Eggs until it seemed as if the flesh was being
orn away in masses | had lost my gun
when fell and was without knife or other
lesson IN woodcraft | never have
Orgottcn--so it was impossible to fight the
brute, except to wildly pound at her eyes with
ny fists as she cndeavOrcd to bite mC--a feat
Which she unsucCessfuIly attempted two or
hrec times. Il
Just then the Captain and Major ran up,
,ut found themselves unable to use thcirguns :
or fear of hurting me- so they did the next .
'ua. ul,ni anu pesan pouIuiiis 'iie snaililS
u ~. "ti NV, L i'ors ~ ,nuTIis
igl 10 change 'front.' Is tiicy 'crlheu It, neSe
sor.S lalieu, however, 10 produce me desired
neGt, lhe pear Wisely considering man IN
ne manu- worm TWO III inc nuSil' so she con {
inucd to hug me and growl, her hind claws
GratGhlhS away NJ my poor ilmps I'LL the L
'lqou ran. cu {
but Antoine; brave fellow thai he was, prov /
d himself fully equal to the emergency, for
le joined issue IN the battle, and with his
harp huntihg KNIFE made SAD havoc with I
nat she Dear s interior ms treatment
proved 100 much Tor her, so she suddenly A,
oSc on her hind feet TIL was lifted off the
ground, ana then abandoned me for the brave
'oyagcur Antoine seemed prepared for the
ncountcr and as the bear charged upon him,
he deXtcrouSly buried his knife in her body, 5
when both rolled over together IN death {
,rapple by this tune Francois had killed |
ne second cuD, ana after rel0adlng his rifle,
cl'iy Pu'lihS u pulIet through thc neaa ol the l
i