The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-12-15
That White Bear.

| NOW here's that promised story from
Homely Ned, and if any boy thinks it ISM
exciting enough, let him give an adventure
OF his own, and we will leave it to q com.
mittee of three to decide in which place
they would rather have been.
promised to tell my neigbor children
| 1--WE are all neigbors in the corner YOU
know) bear story, and have been taught
that 1t Is right to keep promise, and that
IL IS never wrong to do right. Now, boys,
as the BARRIERS say, who's next 2"
HoMELY NED.
| 7. Snow, my dear Miss Editor, pl ease
keep mum about that story you threatened
me with.
MY BEAR STORY.
Three old hunters who often came over
to our Silver Queen city from the Middle
Park, bringing elk and deer and bear meat
to the markets, had told such wonderful
stories about hunting, that my fancy was
| klndled to fever heat to become famous as
| a Nimrod. AT first they did not seem dis
posed to take kindly to my request to be
| allowed to return with them after one of
their visits, but rather made fun of my en-
enthusiasm, saying that was so homely
that my very appearance would Brighten
away all the game.
After much coaxing, however, they con.
sented to let me mount a pony and 90
back with them. | would like to tell you
about our ride over the great range into
the Park about the grand scenery, the
fine road, the sparkling ice-cold streams,
beautiful flowers, the moss hung trees and
the glorious landscapes in the Park, but |
must not Take up your space. The third
DAY out we camped on a stream that flows
through deep canon in the Rabbit Ear
Range, which divides Middle from North
Park. The first night, about midnight, l
woke up, hearing an unusual noise outside
the tent, and waking one of the hunters,
whispered:
Len, there's bear out there !"
He laughed and said:
Oh; that's only thieving fox, Ned,
go to sleep, boy"
or course | couldn't dispute the word of
such mighty hunter, even though had
proved my prowess by killing squirrel
ut twenty yards the day before but l
thought was right, Notwithstanding. So
you may imagine how proud | felt next
morning to hear Len exclaim, when he
went to the creek for water:
Boys, by the ghost of Nimrod, there's
been bear along, here last night-the
tracks are fresh yetw =
After breakfast the three hunters started
in different directions after game. They
thought could not stand the tramp, and
told me to remain about camp and practice
on chipmunks and other small game until
their return.
| soon got tired of camp, and wandered
Off to the top of near mountain, where
had fine view. Here | shot at bird
called ptarmigan, or white quail and
missed it. Then thought it was time to
return to camp, and had got nearly down |
TO the place where our tent stood, when a |
sight met my eyes which made me fairly |
shiyer in my boots Close by the tent |
stood monstrous Gray bear; it was SO |
white that l supposed it must be Il very
old grizzly. AT first l was badly frighten- |
ed, and did know what to do. had been |
very brave when out of danger, and had
Dragged good deal of what would do if |
l could only get chance. Here was nv
chance, and well. wishnh 7 :, -
appear; or that I was in the top of tree,
for had heard it said that grizzly bears
could not climb trees. Up to this time the
bear had not seen me. was standing near
a large rock, i'll which was cleft just large
enough to admit my body. | crept in,
pushing my way backward until was sat
istied that the great beast could not reach
me; and then, the bear being still in plain
sight, blazed away at him with my regol-
yer. The ball must have stung him, for
he gave a growl, and then made straight
for my hiding place. He came right up to
the crack in the rock, and although he
could not crowd his body in, he tried to
reach me with his paw, and the wicked
look in his fierce eyes nearly scared me to
death, as | realized how narrow an escape
there had been in my case from weeping
and mourning in family in Georgetown
over their first born.