The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-02-28

Hollow another valley between the hills !
far away to the east. We soon finished
our chat and started ON the trail, Satan,
"a usual, leading the way. After few
hundred yards had been passed and Satan
had been lost sight of for some
time, we were astonished by hearing far
ahead the loud baying of dog, yelling
in such a manner that we were con-
WINGED game must have been started,
and that of a superior quality to what we
hal been in the habit of following. On
we went, fast as we could clear a path
through the underbrush, stealing along
Silly and slyly, for fear of rousing some
hidden partridge or timid rabbit before
we were near enough to draw the bead
upon them. But on we went, swiftly
and surely, nearing faster and faster
the hounds cry, and the yell ring
ing clearer and shriller through the
frozen air, vibrated against the hillside
and echoed far away. Just as we reach
ed within a few feet of our canine
friend, who seemed TO be perfectly mo-
tionless, save as to baying, We distinctly
heard rustling in the bushes and saw
the fiery eyes and shaggy nozzle of a
young black bear. Frightened | admit
| was, and sprang back few feet upon
the first sight; but the manly firmness
of George treasured me, and | retraced
my steps. He very coolly raised his
rifle to his shoulder and, as near as |
could Judge from the direction of his
aim, he pointed directly between the
beasts eyes and pulled the trigger. | at
the same time stilled the dog, and wait
ed to see the effect of the shot, intending
to put in my bullet if his had proved
Intellectual or insufficient But imam
proposes etc Before / could bring my
rife to my shoulder the bear had dis
appeared, and his tramp, as he crunched
the dead branches under the snow, could
be distin city heard fast receding from
his former hiding place, while the bay
ing of the dog, in full chase, reyerber-
ated through the gorges as if miles away.
On we started, the dog still leading us,
and on we travelled till night brought us
to a halt, worried, hungry and unsuccess-
full. Satan was where we knew not.
Still ringing at intervals far off to the
north could be heard his yell, growing
fainter as we listened. | put my dog
call in my mouth and blew the usual
blast for him to return, but he came not.
Cold, wet and chilled we turned us back,
resolving in our minds to sleep at the
camp all night and go home in the morn
ing. In an hour we had reached the high
ground, and could see plainly the red
light of the sugar-gre looming up clearly
and plainly in the frosty air, colOring the
fieeting snow clouds with yellow glare.
Trudging along with as much CELEBRITY as
possible, we made the woods, striking
direct course to the clearing, which,
after having fallen in the snow hun
dred times, and almost barely escaped
rolling down the innumerable precipices
which we were obliged to pass, we reach
ed, after the boilers had devonred their
supper. No supper. This was new
inducement for anger, and our feelings
at our poor success were not the most
gracious or enviable. We concluded to
return home, supperless and tired as we
were, and waited only for the rising of
the moon to start. During our deten-
ton here, who should come stalking into
our midst, with his ears scratched, his
hide barked, hi hair discolored and
bloody, but our internal friend, Master
Satan! By all appearances he had in
discreetly introduced himself to our
other black friend, the bear, and some not
over amicable personal endearments had
been exchanged between them, from the
effects of which Satan had hurriedly re-
turned to Us in the unseemly state he
now presented. Various were the specu-
lations of the assembled group as to the
final destination of our wounded but still
untamed adversary, and many were the
places, notorious for their wiidness and
difficult approach, named as the final re-
treat and cover of the foe. These con-
lectures, although they inspired us with
tue hope of once again meeting with the
brute and exchanging compliments with
him, were little adapted to cool our
feverish blood, now aggravated by the
taunts of some of the bystanders and by
a raging appetite and depressing weari-
ness. The moon having now attained a
height at which she cast her rays over the
tree-tops and lit up the forest with her
silvery beams, simultaneously we both
arose, determine ed to make for home be-
fore we starved to death or became too
fretful to be agreeable.
Tramp, tramp.-crunch, crunch =
We paced it over the now crispy snow,
which during the day had thawed
slightly, and now, since night had set in,
had frozen till crust covered the whole
expanse of ground. breaking creakingly
underneath our feet. On We walked, I'M
conscious of the presence of each other,
busted only with our own melancholy
thoughts, and desiring neither to con-
verse nor to listen to conversation The
moon shone clearly above us, and every
object was as distinct to the eye as it
would have been had it been MONDAY.
George was walking rod or two behind
me, and at intervals would increase the
distance as he Jagged behind to five or
six. Satan walked silently, majectically,
as if tired, in Georges rear, and like
well-bred hound as he was, followed in
the steps of his masters. Thus we strobe
along until within hundred rods of the
house, and then, by some unaccountable
Satan intruded his nose
and then good part of his body between |
the legs of the already irritated George, /
and, naturally enough, down came the |
butt of the rifle upon his devoted head. |
My attention was attracted towards the |
now picturesque group, from hearing the |
long, loud yell of pain which Satan utter
ed at the rebuke, thereby frightening
me and disturbing the stiffness of the ,
night. | turned to see the cause, and |
heard George curse the dog, threatening,
at the same time, to shoot him if again i
SO awkward. He was now some distance .
behind me, and picking up piece of the .
frozen crust, l demanded why he struck
the hound, and threatened to shoot him |
if he did SO again, and the same moment .
tiinging the ice at his head which, I'M
fortunately, struck him. He bowed his I
head when he felt the blow, but the next
moment | saw him bring his rifle hurri- /
eily to his shoulder and draw the ham,
mer back. | sprang for stump near by,
but before | reached it felt in my right
side a sharp, cutting pain, as if a red-hot
iron was scorching my vitals. Down |
fell, full length on the snow. and for a
moment all was dark and bloody before
my eyes. | now felt the warm blood