The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-02-05

There being no use of trying to over
take a vessel booming along under
whole topsails before stiff breeze, we
were obliged to pull ashore, where we
held a consultation.
Now. boys" the third mate finally
said, (which would you prefer-to run
your chances by going aboard some
other vessel, the first we happen to see,
or stick it out with old Grim?'
Unanimously we shouted:
'Some other vessel"
Every we'll, then," said Mr.. Gray,
''the first thing to do is to build some
kind of shelter and make fire."
We went about the beach, picking up
what driftwood we could find, and in a
few minutes we had roaring fire.
The third mate had secretly brought
a gun with him, and plenty of ammu-
milton.
"Now," said he, "let us go after
game"
Two men were left by the boat, so
that there were four of us on this eXpe-
dition.
l carried a lance, another man, named
Drake, carried harpoon, while the
other. Tom Coffin, had large demilohn,
which he was to fill with water, although
he iokingly remarked that 1t was to
catch the blood of such game as the
third mate should bring down with his
gun. j.,
Up and down hill we roamed, but
could see no sign of game. Suddenly,
elancing far ahead through the light
mist lowering over the brow OF stu
pendous precipice, exclaimed; y.
There's something's bear or fox. "
We made straight for the precipice,
which, however, was much farther OF
than we had supposed.
at will prove a wild-goose chase, I'm
afraid" said the third mate, sitting
down to rest.
Just then Il fowl of some kind flew
over our heads, and crack went Mr..
Grey's gun.
The creature fell headlong at our feet,
and we were all much elated thereat
eve will go no further" said Grey.
'This will do for the present.
But" said l. ''the fox? Let us now
90 after that 1t will be so much more
provision. which we will have in case
the weather should set in cold and
stormy" :,
Il Shall 60 after no fox to-day" said
the third mate.
"Will you let me go?" inquired.
I was a mere boy at the time, and was
anxious to distinguish myself by cap
turing that fox.
Yes, you may go if you wish. But
don't stay long, or you Will lose your
share of this duck"
He surrendered his gun, and l walked
off with the implement over my shoulder.
CHANGING round me now and then, L
could see by the mems looks that they
thought would come back ere l had
gone far. l moved on, however, the
mist thickening round me as l pro-
ceeded. Finally l gained the foot OF
the precipice. the upper part OF which
[ could not see for the fog. toiled up
the cliff, however, which found steep,
craggy, and difficult of ascent.
Finally 1 was SO tired that 1 was
obliged to sit down on ledge to rest
While there / fancied that 1 heard the
bark of dog. It was louder and deeper
than dog usually banks, and / finally
concluded that it must be wolf.
While l was still considering about
the matter, the lean neck, glaring eyes
and pointed face of a middle-sized bear
appeared, peering up at me through the
mist. Then l saw another, and still
another, come up from behind, all glar-
ing at me as if they were hungry, and
would like to make meal OF me. l
took aim with the gun and fired, but the
bullet struck rock and bounded Oft
without hitting one OF the bears. Then
it flashed for the first time across my
mind that had brought no ammuni-
ton with which to reload. The bears
were clambering toward me, and with
feeling of dismay which l cannot de.
scribe, perceived that there were half
a dozen Of them. Growing and snap
ping they came on. hurried away as
fast as could, bounding from crag to
crag, until ut last found myself on the
summit Of the precipice.
The bears were now not more than
ten yards behind me, and glanced
round anxiously, looking for some way
of escape. There was none, however, II
except small cedar tree, growing so
near the edge of the cliff that l wondered
how its roots could find hold: l hur-
ried to the tree and assembled it, which
] was enabled to do speedily, as one of
the branches was not more than six feet
from the ground. climbed about half
way up, with the gun slung to my back,
and sat looking Mt my enemies that had
now arrived ut the foot OF the tree.
They glared up Mt me, uttering fero-
cious growls, showing their fangs and
their red tongues; then one OF them
commenced rather awkwardly to climb
the cedar. l did not, however, give it
time to gain the third branch, but,
quickly descending, gave it blow on
the head, which, fancied, would make
IL Ill