Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-04

bered nothing more until | was
able to sit up and gaze about me,
when l preceived the queerest
figure standing by my side that |
had ever seen. The bear was lying
near by with the blood oozing from
her brain, while the remaining cub |
had scampered away, and was
watching the body of its dead |
parent from higher point up the
mountain. Bleeding and half
stunned as ] was, l could not help
regarding with amazement the sin
gular creature that stood bside me.
| had no idea there were any human
beings in that section Of the noun
tains, save my companions and l,
and this of itself increased my
surprise.
The stranger was a man Of about
sixty years old, tall and almost bald
headed, while an immense flowing
beard, perfectly white, reached
quite to his girdle. He was clad in
the deerskin suit common to hun
ters and trappers, and as he leaned
on his rife and fixed his large gray
eyes upon me | saw that he carried
a keen hunting-knile in his belt.
"Permit me-" l said, "to thank
you for your timely assistance. l
had no idea that there were others
besides ourselves in this region"
"There shouldn't be-" replied the
stranger, with strong emphasis. l
don't know what business you have
to come in my range, and | might
have quarreled over it year ago,
but am getting too old for that
now. Still, l say, you are on my
range, and l don't care how soon
you leave"
After this abrupt reply, as if by
way Of atonement, he asked in a
milder voice, "Are you hurt much?"
l was sitting on the ground, and
as he spoke | tried to raise my right
hand to my head, when 1 expert
enced a sharp pain that almost
made me cry out.
He nodded his head, and, assist
ing me to my feet, began to exam
inc my arm.
"Broken here" he exclaimed,
"just above the elbow. Come with
me-" and he led the way.
81 wonder how far l am from our
caye?" l asked.
ga good way" he replied. "You
are nearer mine. I'll fix you up,
and you are not the first I've seen
suffer in the same way and from
exactly the same cause, and | made
their limbs all sound, and expect to
do yours"
After a short walk we reached the
strangers habitation, which was q
cave very much like the one of my
companions, only that it was smaller
i'll size, and had a fine spring bub.
bling beside it. A few iron pots
with some bear-skins, and couple
of dried gourds, was all l could sec
} in the way of utensils, but the old
fellow had a couple Of tin plates.
When l stripped my coat he made
: some splints and set my arm witt
the same composure that he woulC
have dressed a bear; then he said
ellie down and see if you can ge
some sleep, and by and by we shal
know each other better"
Wearied and faint as | was
obeyed, and soon fell into slumber
9 and when ] ayoke it was late in thu
}, afternoon. As soon as was on m,
+ feet at once began conversation
e @What is your name?" | asked
J "Ralph Fletcher" he replied
!; "but It's so long since | heard i
u that it's a wonder | remember.it a
: all"
= = "How long have you been In tn
g mountains?" asked.
a q "Nigh ten years." he replied
4 "Off and on"
= "Whefe DO you hail from?"
q continued,
- clown of A, Boone county
-s Missouri" he replied.
e, His answer made me start, fo
e. my boyhood had been passed i
= that town, and my mothers brother
/, who had died few years befor'
# bore the same name,
re "That is strange" / answered i
ir a musing way, speaking to mysel
ID "What is stranger" he asked.
t, "That you should bear the nan
e, Of an uncle of mine, lately d
ny ceased, and that you and myse
p, should have been residents Of Il
il same town."