The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-04-08
A NIGHT ~ TIE SfgRIAs.
BY C. j. CLARK.

out by the government upon an eXpedi'
ton of especial Importance, which had
been entrusted to 81 few determined men,
who were willing to risk their lives
for the love of adventure, and, in a
measure, for the ample pay received for
the duty. In the wild woods in Western
New York, in tho Canadas, and the
swamps of Carolina, was at home, and
thought myself as competent to take
care of number one among these diff
cult passes as in the places | Lad hunted
through my boyhoed and, while the
party were resting, and making their
plans for the next day, | took my rifle
and clambered up the rocks in search of
"Bighorn."
1t was easy enough to find one but
to stalk him, and bring him in range,
was another thing. After long chase,
had driven him to the edge Of a rocky
platform from which there seemed literal
iy no chance of escape, but, when came
near end attempted to raise my rife, tho
animal bounded into the gulf before
him, and was gone. rushed up to the
place where he had stood, only TO see
him bounding from ledge to ledge,
aighting like a farther upon roacks
which seemed scarcely capable Of
sustaining a bird. In a rage at his cs
cape, | pulled on him while in the air,
in the act Of making another leap, and,
much to my surprise and delight, the shot
took effect, and the nimblc beast went
rolling down the elf, until be brought
up at tho very bottom OF the pass.
How TO reach him was the next ques-
lion. took note Of the spot where he
t:,y, and made circuit, searching for a
place TO descend. | found it all too
soon for, stepping upon rock covered
with iichens, | suddenly shot ont into
The air, and, went down into the pass at
"a more rapid rate than had bargained
for, alighting with a shock which have
not completely recovered from 10 this
day.
FOR 4 moment | thought Of earth
quakes, boiler explosions and nitio-
gIyccrne but as my dazed senses came
back, realized more fully that, in the |
language of Chef Hall, bad "Iighted."
Picking myself up cautiously, and
satisfying myself that my bones were in
order, looked for my game. The Big
horn WAS lying with his head doubled /
under him, in such a way that was sure /
the neck was broken.
As stepped towards him there was
sudden upheaval Of great body beside
him, an ugly looki' < head was lifted,
cavernous jaws gasped, and was look
ing into the wicked eyes of a large grz-
Fly, prepared TO dispute the possession
of that Bighorn with me!
Boys, you ought to have seen me!
gave Il yell that would have made Il
Piute or Comancho turn palo with envy
and the way | went up those rocks, on
the hunt for some lonely place where
could rest and think, was a sight that
would have made a pleasant spectacle
Tor the boys TO look at. | had lost all
interest in Bighorn; wouldn't have one
as present, especially since "Eph"
wanted the meat himself.
And, now we are on the subject, let
mo Sag this have heard a heap of talk
about men pitching in, single handed, {
and laying out grizzly aud | have no {
doubt it has deem done but you may be ,
sure of one thing - the man that does
the trick, and can collect enough Of his
frame to move with, don't want TO take !
The job again. Anyhow | made myself
scarce IN about the quickest time on '
record, because | did not want to dis !
tnguished myself by killing grizzly
with a bowie.
To tell tho truth, and no foolng | !
never was SO completely scared in the
whole course OF my life and it hurried }
mo a little because that bear growled L.
and followed me up the rocks. | made
the gravel fy like hail storm boys; IT =,
MAS just awful, tor | though; Eph was !
close al my heels, and every moment | :,
expected to feel his grip on the tail OF 9
any coat, which stock out behind me
like u board, | sailed along so fast.
But, after | had run myself out Of
breath, lodging in and out among the '
passes, looked over my shoulder, and "
not seeing or hearing anything Of the a
bear | pulled up and took breath. Its h
my belief now that Eph never chased me |
more than ten feet, for | suppose be
thought from the way | got over the
rocks, that it was needless for him to h
think of keeping up with fellow who "
could run like that. Il
Don't laugh, if you can h,lp it, boys. Y
] give my word OF honor as q gentleman h
that it was no laughing matter TO me at
the time, and | never felt as relieved in
my life as when | saw that bear WAS not s.
in iu!i chase. The wind was pretty well o
cut of me by this time, and sat down 4
on stone to putf, and looked around. L
Where was | AS my eyes roved a
over the lofty crags, could see no I,
familiar landmark which would guide
NE 10 camp. / WAS lost in the noun
tain passes, far from my friends for | p
had chased the Bighorn many miles be- d
tore my bullet brought him down. was C
of an amateur snd PEI haps d
inagniied the danger, yet | feared to C;
pass the night alone in the mountain m
passes. =
thought ST the growing grizzly. of
the Garrajou, the mountain volt and The
Indians, who had Cor many DAYS been
lurking about Us, too cowardly 10 make ?.
an attack, and waiting for AN attack AZ
a straggier. Perhaps they had seen me
depart sad were even now layinr in ~
wait for me. decided that this bnnt- on
Ing alone IN the mountains was inter ~
and that if ever | escapcd in,
with whole skin would take one of a.
The guides ont with ma -. A..