River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-26


fresh air, long walks, and wholesome
food do wonders toward taking away
ones natural nervousness.
1t was nine o'clock then. AT mid
night / was awakened by the stir
occasioned by change of bed fellows,
Charlie going ON guard, while Will
"turned M but it was not until
three o'clock, when Charlie shook me
and whispered in my ear, Fern the
bear!" that fairly reused myself.
The bear z" queried, "where ~
That's for YOU TO tell" answered
he, rolling himself in his blanket, "all
has been quiet on my watch. But you
may see something yet. Good night
Pretty near morning for that salu
tation, thought L, us rubbing the sleep
from my eyelids, / took my position ON
the log and looked about me. The
moon, which had shone in the earlier
part of the night, was now hidden be-
hind dense bank of clouds which
obscured all the western horizon. Only
a few stars shed q twinkliug light,
which fell wavering through the silent
tfee-tops overhead, TO flicker and fade
on the still more silent earth below.
The "moon breeze, which sprang up
in the evening, had died away, and not
breath of wind moved among the
gloomy woods about. All nature was
asleep and still. AT times the distant
cry of some uneasy owl, or the mourn.
full note of the high sailing loou, fell
upon my ear, but listen ever so atten-
lively, no steps announced the coming
of the shaggy thief.
The hours passed slowly by. The
ripple of the. water close mt hand
sounded dreamily through the air
Once | heard distant plunge, but
after waiting with open mouth and
bated breath for long time, ] decided
the noise to have been made by some
adventurous trout rather than by any
nobler game.
AT length, away to the east, signs of
dawn began to show, dim and SHIN
mering, along the horizon. These,
from pale yellow grew and strength
ened to an orange, then a delicious
violet fringed with touch of red, and
lastly to rich and glowing crimson,
the sure attendant of the early sun,
which soon appeared, burning with
glorious beauty of its own Long
lances Of level light shot through the
woods, the birds began their morning
roundelay, aud ere my lastquarter was
up the boys had awakened and rose to
greet the coming day.
!" No bear, l suppose 2 y said VIII,
as with towel in hand he passed me on
his way to the river.
''No, f" 1 answered, elf Bruins the
thief, he didn't come again last night
We'll. let's have break fast, yawned
Charlie, and he set about gathering
the scattered embers Of the fire then
if we choose we can get Tarcome's
hound, and track whatever ii was.
This | readily agreed to, my early
rising having given me sharp appe-
tite, and after plunge in the cool,
brightning water of the river, L turned
my attention to the preparation of our
morning meal, while Charlie brought
wood for the fire and VIII water from
the spring. / had Just aslsed Charlie
to cut some steaks from our trap meat,
when a Jolly shout came ringing up
from the shore,
" Bears steak for breakfast, boys ~
1t was Tarcome.
No, sir, - / shouted back, ''the ras-
cal didn't come, and we had our watch
for our pains. We think some of track
ing him after breakfast if we could Dor
row your hound.
just what thought myself" Mr..
L. answered, springing from the boat,
followed by his dog, and advancing to-
ward the tire, "and having had break
fast, came over at once bringing Don
with me. Would you like bear hunt,
old fellow z" he added, STOPPING to pat
the monstrous hound at his side.
" A very large dog" said Charlie.
who had come up, he must require
considerable meat"
"Yes," laughed our friend, che is
quite an eater, but this morning he
has had nothing. L thought he would
take to the trail better if his stomach
urged him a little.
mot bad idea" replied Will.
"let's see If he will strike the track, "
and calling the hound he advanced
toward The tree. The meat still hung
NANAN3 Aot NAHAAAG iuAl uOb Ntb Ldktu III
down to eat. The dog shifted little
as he approached the spot. We all
looked eagerly up. Suddenly he rush
ell forward, but instead OF dashing
into the bushes MS if in pursuit of some
animal, he made quick spring, struck
the side Of the tree, reached his long
neck upward, and in a moment more
was scurrying away towards the thick.
cts with our venison in his Jaws! The
hound lOdS the Thief!
For an instant we all stood speech
less, then a general roar Of laughter
broke forth. VIII fairly rolled on the
ground in his excitement, occasionally
giving vent to the cries, " Watched all
night - ".Must be a bear I" Good
hound to catch thieves, and following
each remark with another fit or rolling
and laughter. Nor were the rest of us
for "a time much behind him in our
nOisiness.
We breakiasted at Tarcom's camp
that morning, and were presented with
another haunch Of venison ia pay
ment for the two that his dog had
stolen The Joke was good one on us
All. although Tarcome felt his hound's
perfdy more keenly than did we, but