The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-04-16
MI j S G g liza IA Q O u s.
For'The 1B'gis d; Latelligeacer.
An Adventure With a Bear.
BY BELLE GUARD.

In small cabin, on the border of q
large tract of prairie land in the "Far
West" were assembled a company of men,
who, from their dress and general appear
ance, it might be safely inferred were hun
ters-men who made their living by the
chase. They appeared to be set of jovial,
free-and-easy fellows, who were disposed to
take life as they found it, accepting its re-
verses or successes without stopping to
murmur at the dispensation of Providence.
They were engaged in relating various adj
ventures in which they had taken part
since they had left the centre of civiliza-
ton and embarked on the exciting and
dangerous life on the frontier.
"Harry, can't you tell us about the fight
you had with bear the first time you ven
tured out on the prairie 2" asked one OF
the group.
The person appealed to, although attir-
ed in the garb OF a backwoodsman, bore
the impress of culture and refinement, and
it was evident that he had enjoyed the adj
vantages of education, and that he had
been reared in more civilized locality
than that in which we now find him.
eyes, Harry, give us the benefit of your
first experience with the wild animals of
the forest" exclaimed another voice
Being thus urged, Harry began.
sit is not much of story, but such as
it is you are welcome to it.
"You of course recollect the circum-
stance of my leaving home and joining in
this wild life, SO 1 will moi rehearse it.
"Leaving my companions at our cabin, /
started out one morning in quest of game.
l had not proceeded far, when, CHANGING
to look down toward the ground, discov-
cred large track in the soft earth, which
had been made by some animal that had
passed along very recently; and from its
size and shape, l instantly concluded that
it had been made by bear Of enormous
size, and fearing that if went back to the
cabin for help he would escape, started
at once in pursuit.
Judging from the freshness of the trail
that he was in the immediate vicinity.
kept every sense on the alert, and with
gun raised ready to fire on the least init
nation of danger, continued on.
"There is peculiar feeling of dread OF
apprehension sensation not at all pleas
ant-which almost invariably steals over a
person when suddenly exposed to some
hidden danger, and although this feeling
is not one of fear, it has the quality Of
making the mind more acute, alive to ey.
cry sign of danger, and very often magni.
flying those dangers double their real size
| Such feeling as this I experienced, and
as kept on, expecting every moment to
see the bear spring out of the bushes upon
me, noticed dark object to the right Of
me and about fifty yards off. Taking this
to be the bear fired, but as it did not
move concluded that l had missed him
SO loading my rifle again fired. Still nc
movement on the part of the bear. I re-
solved to approach nearer; so, cautiously
gliding towards the supposed bear, what
was my disgust to find that had beer
shooting at solid rock
81 again started on the trail, travelling
on and on, but still no bear. Evidentl,
he was further off than had Anticipated
l began to despair of success, and was OF
the point of giving up the chase when
was startled by low growl which cam,
from the left, and turning quickly around
| beheld the object of my search. He wa
seated on his launches, on q large, fla
rock, quietly regarding a very large rattle
snake that had crawled close to where H.
was sitting. 1t was fully six feet LONG
and as it coiled itself into graceful curve
and erected its shining head it sent tortl
fiery glances, that seemed like lightniu.
from its glossy eyes.
"The bear sat watching it as if in con
tempt, but suddenly, with the quicknes
of thought the snake gave a spring an,
alighting on his back, began to coil itsel
around his body, but did not attempt t
bite him.
This was new state of affairs to til
bear. Evidently he did not know wha
to make of being held so tight in the fold
OF the snake, and he at once commenced t
dislodge him from his position; but h
was not SO easy to get rid of, and the bea
after scratching, biting and rolling owe
and over, getting his eyes filed with dir
in the vain attempt to free himself of hi
enemy, at last, in his Madness started t
run.
"The sight was one of the most comics
that had ever seen, for as the bear, blint
ed by the dust which he had got in h
eyes, was continuing his flight, he sudder
ly tripped over stump, which happene
to be in the way, and over he went, doul
| ling himself up and making some half dc