Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-02-15

some of the bear steak which had
prepared for my lunch.
With some difficulty the Wood light,
cd, and, after sputtcring for some timc,
burst into comfortable blaze 4 couple
of spits were soon ready, and the meat,
the only article | possessed, was blister.
ing away before the fire.
Stepping u few yards aside to heap
Of dead brush. to get a fresh supply of
fuel. to my great surprise and JOY | dis
covered a large cavity i'll the rocks. |
eagerly tore away the brush and vines
about the entrance, and made my way
into the new quarters. 1t proved to be
n rough apartment, extending about
fifteen feet into the side fthe mountain,
and witicned from the entrance to the
back wall. 1t was comparatively dry,
and very desirable shelter from the
approaching storm. A large pile of
brush was easily passed into the cavity,
where speedily removed my supper.
When the feeble light Of fire illumin-
"a the dingy place was not So par
ticularly at ease rs my first impressions
led me TO hope | would be The indl.
cations were quite too evident for me
to be mistaken; | had usurped the
abode Of i grizzly bear. was not then
50 fearful Of meeting this terrible men-
stcr rs | am NOW and was not at all in
clined to give it up to Bruin; it was
much moro comfortable, compared to
the open air. protected from the storm
which was DOW beating against the
mountain-Sidc with increasing fury.
Ah = was my inward ejaculation,
" this storm will certainly drive Bruin
back 10 his home and prelipitatc II
meeting With me.
felt confident of meeting the brute
with an advantage to myself With my
rifle | was shure shot; added to this
were two strong-shooting navy rcvol-
vers and reliable hunting knife. There
was no idea Of sleep for me while things
were in this conditions so | made Il
brisk fire near the entrance, and, with
q large rock at my back, | waited pa
tcntly, i'll i sitting posture, with my
rifle freshly primed and cooked for in
stant use at my side, for the appearance
of my enemy.
The rain was new pouring III torrents
upon the snow, already softencd by the
approaching spring, and, with the melt
ing snow, poured down the mountain
ut Il fearful rate. My attention was
shortly directed to the top of the en-
trance, which had first noticed with
il casual glance, but on examining il
more closely found it to lie Il large flat
stone
OF course there WAS nothing alarm
ing in this. and when the water began to
trickIe through the rocks, making il
necessary for me To remove the fire
further within the shelter Of the cavern,
my alarm was not excited in the least.
One-two long, long hours passed by;
still remained watching for the COM
ing Of the dreadful creature still was
the torrent of water pouring about the
entrance. Hark What is that grating
sound2 lnstinctively raised my rifle
to my shoulder and waited Moment
succeeded moment, but still no appear
ance fiom the vague darkness be-
yond.
Again it tsounded, sharper and more
clearly defined than before What
could it be? A halfformed fear filled
me. Was every thing right In \ mo-
ment moro the suspense was broken;
an enemy more dangerous than the
bear had already faced me. The water
had worn away the sandy soil between
the rocks, causing the large stone at the
bottom to fall completely choking up
the way was a prisoner
A full sense of my position filled me
with the widest alarm. Nainly put
my shoulder to tie huge rock and cs.
sayed to push it from its lodgment; but
il only seemed the iirmcr, and worked
the harder,
Turn my thoughts whichever way
may, the awful siekcning idea Of stary,
ing slowly continually haunted nc
Tho fire was blazing brightly, and the
dim shadow danced fantastic figures on
the wall; the rain beat down with un.
abated fury, and distant flash of light
ming revealed few small Crcvicce
about the entrance; the low growing 81
the bear, that had now returned, and
the scratching Of his sharp claws against
the rock that shut him out Us complete.
\ ly as | was shut it'll all combined e
make my reveries Of the most IN.
/ pleasant nature.
1t Will bc two days thought l.
when ealmness ruled my mind, before
my comrades take any steps 70 look
\ for nc, They will not hc alarmed AZ
my being ont for one night and the
second nights absence will only excite
their anxiety, not greatly indeed, fol
they trust 70 my skill and strength d
carry me through any ordinary conflict
7 Two daysto excite their alarm, and ont
/ to reach me, ifthey take direct route
for me, which is not at all likely, and
the terrible storm las washed away tn
faintest trace of my trail Three dal.
nf liYing dcAth M lnast. aud tAat may