The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-09

moving one deeply. They are many :
sometimes long hours under the radio Mt
immobility of the heavens; before one,
around one, every the CONTAGIOUS
impassibility of the calm horizon, some.
times storm, a whirlwind pursuing the
| black clouds along the mountain sides.
the thun Ierbolt which plOughs the sum-
nlits, waking dull echoes in the savage
breast. Toward the end of August the
/ weather changed. For eight days gray
mist like a spiderweb spread over the
| valley, and moderated the air to moist
warmth. The thrushes sang; the sun
set red and rayless. One morning the
sky was overcast, and the rain fell in
torrents. 81 must depart" said to
Stepan.
"Wait little, Batko; this will not
last; and you shall kill bear in the
new moon" He informed me that for
some time bear had visited the itclos-
ure of his neighbor in the dusk of even
ing to steal the honey there. "We are
going to lie in wait for him, and Fedor
has appointed me to invite you to go with
us, if it will be agreeable to you"
L accepted Immediately, and immedi-
ately we set about cleaning my two
Oarreled shotgun and rifle. Toward 5
oclOch the rain abated, and only from
time to time few large drops fell. At
7 O'Clock the wind had swept the sky,
and the same evening it was bright
moonlight. We went down to Fedor's
cottage, who was expecting us.
He was a short, sqtiatEy man, with
features responding to his figure,
with an insignificant expression. I
think [ observed that his orchard ex-
tended up the mountain to where it met
the wood. At the highest point, shell
tered by rock, the hives were ranged
in line. Fedor pointed out to me q
fruit tree which would shelter me, con-
Quoted Stepan about hundred steps to
buck tree and returned toward me i'll
an oblique direction, little to the left.
When he had taken his position, I
noticed that we were upon the same
plane, separated by the hives only.
Stepan occupied the summit of the
sharp angle whose sides ended at our
station. [ witnessed this with astonish-
ment. / also observed that Stepan was
in the direction of the wind, an ex-
tremely perilOus position for the hunter
/ remarked upon this to Fedor. He
calmly explained that the bear usually
followed along the edge of the rock;
that he would go direct to the hives,
and if my shot or his failed he would
very certainly retreat in the direction of
the forest, thus presenting himself to
Stepan, who would cut off his retreat
A half hour passed, then an hour. l
became too cold to remain thus motion
less, and / moved,
Patience, Batko," whispered Fedor.
Soon he leaped to my side. "Look"
he whispered. [ followed his glance
A bear was moving right toward Stepan.
He came from the opposite direction to
that from which [ expected him-frOm
that which Fedor had indicated to me.
Suddenly he stopped, raised his head,
snuffed the air, and again took up his
march, uttering little grunts From
time to time he opened his jaws, showing
a small arsenal of teeth, and breathing
noisily, like cat quarreling with dog.
| inspected alternately Stepan, the
bear, and my weapons. The bear was
no more than six or seven meters from
Stepan. The attitude of the peasant
appeared to me admirable he had not
yet even raised his rife.
"He will kill the bear close to the
muzzle," said in low voice to Fedor.
The bear advanced few steps, then,
with horrible growl. raised himself
upon his hind feet My double-bar-
relied gun was ieveled in the twinkling
of an eye | was about to fire. since
fear, evidently, had paralyzed the i'm
beetle Stepan, but hand of iron bound
my arm.
"Peace, Batko, peace" said Fedor,
with an accent which chilled me.
A sudden suspicion flashed through
my mind. [ cOmprehended it all.
Everything had been premeditated skill
fully, and at length prepared: the bear
birch tree he found to-day another
of a neighbor and a friend. There then
occurred a trightful scene With a
bound the bear was upon Stepan he
placed one heavy paw upon the shoulder
of the unfortunate man with the other
he tore the flesh from his face, then
Rugged him in a close embrace, and
rolled upon him. [ looked on power
less, in a state of stupor, benumbed
like one who has taken chlorOform,
where every feeling of horror is ami
nllaGed, although having entlfe con-
seriousness of everything passing. A
shot resounded, and restored me to
myself The bear rolled over a few
feet from his victim. Fedor, running
to the beast, said:
81 shall get nearly ten forms for this
fur, and with the government premium
that will make q wIndfall T.
" Without counting the death of
Stepan," 1 added.
He looked at me; hideous exuIta-
ton, the legitimate transport of a wrong
avenged, sparkled in his eye.
The Carpatbians were Obscured; all
about the shadows heightened, faded
out. Lonba wept. l depart tomorrow.
NJ, NJ. r,