The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-06-06

foot. as his bloody tracks showed.
He got off but this experience
seemed to have sOured his disposition
He owed a spite to the settlement
cone night great row was heard in
my mcle'S pig pen. He and the boys
rushed out with pitchforkS, gun and a
lantern. They knew what the trouble
was. or soon found out.
A huge black bear had broken down
the side of the pen; he had seized fat
pOrker and was actually Juggling him of
in his arms. The pig was kicking and
squealing, but the bear had him fast
He did not seem at all inclined to give
up his prey. even when attacked. He
looked sullen and ugly, but few jabs
from pitchfOrk and a shot in the shOul-
der convinced him that he was making
a mistake
He dropped thepig and got away be-
fore my uncle could load up for another
shot. The next morning they examined
his tracks. 1t was Old Two Claws.
''But what split him for being a quiet
neighbOr was something that happened
about a year after that
There was a rowing family Of Indians
encamped nearthe settlements: hunting.
fishing and making mOccaSinS and baS-
kets, which they traded with the whites.
Zone afternoon the Red-Sky-Of-the-
Morning, wife of the Water-Snake-with-
the-LOng-Tail, came over to the settle
ment with some Of their truck for sale.
She had papOOse on her back strapped
on a board another squaw travelled
with her, carrying an empty jug.
Almost within sight of GOTman'S s
grocery Red-Sky took off her papoose
and hung it on a tree The fellows
around the store had made fun of it
when she was there once before. so she
preferred TO leave it in the woods rather
than expose it to the coarse jokes OF the
boys. The little thing was used to such
treatment. Whether carried or hung
up, papOosey never cried.
The SquawS traded off the truck.
and bought, with other lUXurieS of civil
iZation. gallon of whisky. They drank
out of the jug. and then looked at more
goods. Then they drank again. and
from being Shy and silent. as at first.
they giggled and chatted like couple
of silly white girls. They spent a good
deal more time and money at GOrman's
than they would if it hadn't been for
the whisky, but finally they started to
60 back through the woods
They went chattering and giggling
to the tree where the papUOse had been
ANANs 4 tah y W a. iiO llti lI'itfNt tllt-lt
This discovery sObered them. They
thought ut first that the fellows around
the store had played them a trick by
taking it away; but by-and-by the Red
ky-ot-the-Morniug set mp a shrek
''She had found the board not far off.
but no.papoose strapped to it, only some
thing that told the story Of what had
happened.
There We're bear tracks around the
spot. one Of the prints showed only
two claws.
The Bed-Sky-of-th Morning went
back to the camp with the news the
other squaw followed with the jug.
when the Warer-Snake-with-t
Long-tail heard that his papoose had
beeu eaten by bear. he felt. | suppose.
very much as any white father would
have felt under the circumstances. He
vowed vengeance against Old Two
Claws, but cOnsOled himself with drink
OF the iire-water before starting on the
hunt
The braves with him followed his
example, 1t wasn't in Indian nature
to start until they had eInptied the lug.
so it happened Chat Old Two Claws got
off again. Tipsy braves can't follow "A
trail worth a cent
N OF very long after that woman in
4 neighDOring settlement heard her
children scream ON day in the woods
near the house. She rushed ont. and
actually saw a bear Juggling off her
youngest.
''She was sickly. feeble sort of
woman. but such 4 sight was enough to
give her the strength and courage of a
man. She ran and caught up an axe.
Luckily she had big dog. The two
went at the bear
The Old fellow had no notice of los
ing his dinner just for a woman and a
mongrel cur. But She struck him
tremendous blow on the back at the
same time the pup got him by the leg.
lie dropped the young one to defend
himself She caught it up and ran.
leaving the two beasts to have it out. to-
getheT
The bear made short work with the
cur. but instead Of following the woman
and child, he skulked off into the woods.
The settlers got together for a grand
hunt; but old Two Claws-for The tracks
showed Chat he was the scOundrel-eS-
capped into the mountains and lived to
make more trouble another day.
The child Oh, the child was scarce
~ hurt. It had got squeezed and scratch
ed little in the final tusSle; that was all
As to the bear. he was next heard Of
in our settlement -
The hOstler heSitated. winked his one
eye with an odd expression, put a fresh
quid into his cheek. and finally resumed:
a bTother-in-law of my uncle. man
of the name of Rush. was one dav chop
ping in the woods about half mile from
his house. when his wife went out to
carry him his luncheon.
she left two children at home. a boy
about five years old, and baby just big
enough to toddle around.
The boy had often been told that if
he stTayed into the woods with his broth
er a bear might carry them off. and she
charged him again that forenoon not to
go away from the house but he was an
enterprising little fellow. and when the
sun shone so pleasant and the woods
looked so inviting. he WASH I to be afraid
OF bears.
The woman stopped TO see her hus-
band fell a big beech he was cutting. and
then went back to the house. Just be-
fore she got there she saw the oldest boy
coming out OF the woods on the other
side He was alone. lie was white as
a sheet, and so frightened at first that he
couldn't speak.
Johnny says She, catching hold of
him. what is the matter ?
\ bear = he gasped out at last.
Where is your little brother ? was
her next question.
= 1 don't know said he, too much
frightened 10 know anything Just then.
Where did YOU leave your brotherF'
says she.
Then he seemed to have gotten his
wits together q little A bear took