Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-06-30

ened horses plunged along, and the
sledge was whirled around turn, where
1t came very near upsetting, the bear hac
to hold fastto the front seat to keep from
being thrown out. On they went, the
horses madly dashing along, and the
bear tightly clutching the seat, until
they reached the level road again. Here
the tremendous pace which they had
been keeping up almost from the time
that they had entered the forest began to
tell upon the horses, and, in spite of their
terror. their speed slackened.
And now the bear. finding his seat
more secure leaned forward, as if he
could afford to lose no more time in
making his choice of the horses.
But already he had waited too long.
At short distancein front of him. by
the roadside, there stood two men with
rifles on their shoulders. They were
hunters. Having heard behind them
the noise of the galloping horses, they
had stopped and turned to see what it
was which was approaching at such a
pace. They did not comprehend that a
pear was the occupant of the sledge,
until it had passed them. But then,
raising their rifles together, they took
quick aim! two reports rang out, and
two balls went drought the head of the
bear who dropped dead in the bottom of
the the sledge. On went the horses,
galloping more slowly, but still going at
rapid rate.
"Ho! hol" said one of the hunters.
Something has happened! Ii l am
not mistaken, those were the horses
of Gen. Batashef, and that was bis
sledge."
81 think you are right" said the other;
'-but how came bear i'm it? He could
not have lent his sledge to bear,
especially one who drives so recklessly.
SOmthing has happened. as you say.
Let US go back and see what it is"
So back toward the woods went
the hunters. When they had proceeded
some distance into the forests, they saw
two doleful f1gures approaching them.
One was Ivan, who had hurt his leg when
he sprang from the sledge, and he was
limping along, partly supported by the
General who had rolled into snowbank,
and, with the exception of shaking-up
had escaped injury
They were glad enough to see the
hunters, and still more happy to hear of
the death of the bear. for Ivan had great
fears that the brute would jump out OF
the sledge and come back after them.
The two men took Ivan between them,
anu by resting his hands on shoulder
of each Of them, he found that he could get
along very We'll. The news of the death
OF the bear really made his leg feel
better. The General was strong and
vigorous, anu so they hoped to get home
without much difficulty, although there
were six or seven miles to be walked.
Not very long after this, the three
horses, painting and smoking trOtted into
the courtyard adjoining the Generals
stables, and stopped before the great
stable door. Some OF the men. who had
been expecting the General, came run
ming OUT, but when they saw no one in
tile sledge but a dead bear, they were
strickrn dumb Nth amazeinent.
What Is this z" said one, when he
found his tongue. This beast has de-
voIired lyan and out master J"
"How can that be?' said another.
He is dead himself. Ii he killed them
first, they could not have killed him al
terward! and il they killed him first, he
could not have killed them"
"True enough" said Il big man with
a gray beard, who had Charge OF the
>laDIes. "'rhey cannot be nurt. or they
could not have shot this bear SO we'll. /
Sc. how it was. The General shot the
b ar; be shot him lwice-there are two
wounds i'm his head. Then he and Ivan
were IlttIng him into the sIedge when
Tie hors-s look frlyht-tIey hate bear
lead or aliye-and ran off, leaving Ivan
iiu the 0eiierai st;I,.,frng III the road.
llere-quick Bring out another sledge
anu team. Harness in haste; will go
back myself and bring them home. But
every man of you: NOte Il
word OF this i'll the house until return -
The three fresh horses SOON met the
party OH foot, and, as the sledge WAS Il
large one, they all were taken into it
the General insisting Oh tile hunters
coming to his house and taking posses
sion OF the bear, which was certainly
their prize.
When the sledge reached the Generals
home, it stopped first ut the courtyard,
and Ivan and the hunters got out.
The General was driven To the main
entrance of his mansion, where his wife,
hearing the bells OF the horses, ran out
to meet him.
Alter Inc had alighted, and they were
about to go together into the house, she
noticed that gray bearded Michael was
the driver, and not Ivan, whom she had
seen start off the the day before, and she
asked how this change had been made.
.'Oh p said the General, have changes!
drivers, and have changed sledges and
horses also, on the Way. l even got out
Of my sleege. because an impudeDt indi-
7idual, whom wemet OH the road, wanted
20 ride i'm it,"
land you let him have it ?" asked his
wife, in amazement.
"Yes," said the General, II thought
t well to give it up to him. And now
ct us go la, and l will tell you the
tory"
NEWS.
~ NJ x,u, AAv0pfieinO Clerk.