The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-06

kASHAu Va WAuAu SoHlunluut ucluB uuNut-
less an ppheayal Of tho granite forlna.
ton thNt tinderlies the whole regiSn.
Though we were in the very heart Of the
woods, the trees in The vicinity were
stuntel, showing that the soil was shall
low. Still IL was o beautiful spot for
our purpose, and Francois soon had
fro blazing, Antoine meanwhile clean
ing q few Of the pigeons for the spit.
Our appetites were naturally sharp set,
and tie meal proved to be q famous one.
The erackling pine-knot fire glowed in q
creyico OF the rocks, and We were in tho
full enjoyment Of roast pigeon, when we
wore all startled by o hoarse growl in
our rear. a.
"Dcs curses! The bearsl The bears!"
shouted Francois, rs we all leaped in.
stinctiyely TO our feet.
Bears it was, sure enough, for coming
down upon us were four OF the uncouth
brutes, scrambling over the rocks in ey-
identity m angry mood. II was our fire
that had done tqe mischief. Built in q
crevice, as ii had been, some OF tho
smoke must have been driven by IN air
current into some sort OF subterranean
cavern, which formed tho den Of the
bears. They had, no doubt, been
smoked out by our fire, and were conse-
quently fierce in their blind rage. It
was decidedly an unpleasant predica.
ment, four bears opposed TO five men,
one Of thom wholly unarmed, for An.
toine had carried our provender.
"To tho trees get behind tree y
cried the two guides, nimbly setting the
example as they spoke. Tho Major and
the Captain followed suit, while I start
cd of 10 the left, q proceeding that near.
ly cost mo my life. The suddenness OF
the alarm and tho unexpected sight OF
the bears in such close proximity COM
pletely unsettled my nerves, 80 that I
scarcely knew what l was doing. To
She horror Of my more experienced com.
panionS, suddenly paused in my head.
long flight, and omptied both Of my bar
rels right into the face OF huge brute
that Ind evidently selected my unlucky
self as It's grize. OF course, the hail Of
small shot only added to her rnge, for 1t
was the mother Of the family, though
tho was in no WY disabled 50 there l
was, face to face to the animal, with m
empty gun in ny hand and utterly help-
less, for my companions could render
me no immediate aid, having their hands
full in looking after the other bears.
Francois opened tho battle by firing
OF the father Of tho group, and succeed.
cd in rolling him over. He Ind previ.
ously handed tho two officers some OF
his round bullets, and they loaded
rapidly, succeeding between them in
killing one Of the cubs, leaving his COM
panion to be attended TO by Francois
while they ran 10 my assistance, which
I needed sorely. I had, unfortunately,
run too far away from Francois TO re-
ceive my quota Of tho bullets, and even
il I Ind them, It is doubtful II I could
have made them available; When I so
recklessly scattered my pigeon-shot in
the face Of tho sllo bear, l turned and
ran for the nearest tree. II proved to
be o mere sapling compared with the
others, so ! at once started for another
and stouter stem, hoping to gain It in
time to avoid my pursuer.
Alas my foot caught in projecting
root, md down went on oil tours. In
moment l felt the bear seize me IN
terrific hug, her hind feet tearing away
in an awful manner at my stout leather
leggings. It was q terrible moment, for
death seemed imminent, while the re.
ports Of my companions guns rang in
my cars with singular distinctness. Tho
pain OF the bears hug was suifocating
one, and I could feel her huge claws
tugging at my legs until 1t seemed as il
the flesh was being torn away in masses.
I had lost my gun when I fell, md was
without knife or other weapon.--a lesson
in woodcraft I have never forgotten.--so
it was impossible to fight the brute,
except TO wildly pound Of her eyes with
my fists as she endeavored TO bite me-
q feat she unsuccessiully attempted two
or three times.
Just then tho Captain and the Major
ran up, but found Themselves unable to
use their guns for fear Of hurting gme, so
they did tie next best thing, and began
pounding the snarling brute on her
launches, in hopes Of inducing her to
change front, rs they aiterward termed
it. These efforts failed, however, to
produce the desired effect, the bear wise
ly considering q man in hand worth two
in the bush, SO she continued to hug me,
and growl, her hind claws scratching my
limbs until the blood ran.
But Antoine, brave fellow that he was,
proved himself fully equal to the emer.
gency, for he Joined issue in the battle,
and with his sharp hunting.knife made
sad havoc with the she bear's interior.
This treatment proved too much for her,
so she suddenly roso on her hind feet
until I was lifted of tho ground, and
then abandoned mo for the brave voy.
ngeur. Antoine seemed prepared for
tho encounter, and as the bear charged
upon him he dexterously buried his
knife in her body, when both rolled over
together in q death grapplc. BY this
time Francois had killed the second cub,
and after reloading his rifle elected our
admiration by running up md deftly
putting bullet through tho head Of the
she bear as she lay struggling with his
comrade. That ended our bear fight.
Lam not ashamed to confess that 1
tainted Just then, for I was sorely
wounded, and actually out Of breath.
But o pull at the flask Of Cognac, car.
ried by Antoine, soon revived mo, and
vs. examined my hurts. The bear had
tom my leggings and trousers into
shredS, and my legs were deeply scored
by her formidable claws. No bones
werc broken, however, and tho flow Of