River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-10
A Battle with a Bear.

nv little escapade when | was sup
| North last year, a cold shiver runs
through my frame.
VINO / am or what I am doesn't much
matter, so / need not explain myself any
farther than to say that last year had
the most singular adventure with a polar
that ever a creature of this unhappy
world had
Well, during the long winter months
that We were shut in by the ice, we had
constructed some snow huts, or scairns''
| as we call them, for it was warmer to sleep
in them than it was to sleep on aboard
ship, so we used to nestle in them for
the night.
One day when we had returned from an
unsuccessful hunt, we repaired to the
ship, and INDUCED in hearty meal
while praying for the speedy termination
OF the winter.
| suppose that must have had glass
too much, or that the cold air had affect
ed my head, for | began to talk, thing
that | don't generally do.
Now, they all knew Of my hatred for
'polars," and used occasionally to chaff
me with it, and on this particular day
they began with a vengence.
KILLED any polars to-day, BlinkeyT'
"Polarsr SAYS in loud voice. "Now,
look you here; you fellers are always
chatting me about 'polars' but | amt
scared of any polar, Twin. SO put that
in your pipe and smoke it,
"Oh, you amt, amt your" says the
bo's'n.
''No, amt, says L; "and what's more,
one OF these mornings yor will see me
bring in a big polar for breakfast"
'Bet you wontr' shouted twenty voic-
es.
''Bct | dor yelled back again; and
carried away by my Unnatural ardor. l
made bets in all directions.
When returned to my cairn that night,
l bitterly repcnted MY folly, and mental
ly spcculated on the improbabiilty of a
"poar" being generous enough to allow
me to shoot him.
In this melancholy state OF mind, |
crawled into my cairn-the openings are
only large enough to admit your entrance
in an excessively low position-and, as /
composed myself to sleep, | vowed a
solemn vow never to bet ON 'polars"
again.
At about three o'clock the next morn
ing | was reused from the arms of Nor
pheus by hearing low, grunting sound
at the door Of my cairn.
Hastily removing the bundles with
which | had closed the office, | seized
my rife, and crawled to tDe entrance to
interview my early morning visitor.
/ reached the opening, put my head
out, but could not see anything; but re
solving to make sure, | ventured my
shoulders out also, when, on turning my
head little to the left, what was my
horror and dismay to see an enormous
''polar' looking me full in the face.
To draw myself in again, like fright
cned snail into its shell, was the work OF
second, but not a second too soon either,
for my unlimited visitor showed his muz
zle into the opening and greeted me witt
loud roar, to which | answered with
blow on the snout from the butt of my ri
file, causing the retreat Of the enemy in
dismay.
Here was a golden opportunity to dis
tinguish myself On, if l could onl, GET
a fair shot at the ''polarr' Suddenly
bright idea flashed across my frettul BRAIN.
WHY not tunnel out at the other end, and
take him in the rear?
No sooner SAID than done: Ratchet in
hand | cut my way through the back OF
the cairn, resolving to steal march on
the ''polar." 1t was hard Job in two
senses, for tie snow of the hut had been
converted into solid, firm substance,
and it was tough work to burrow through.
At last, by dint of superhuman exerti0nS,
T hoil NJ al 40
same size as the one serving as an en-
trance to my abode.
Selling my rifle, | peered cautiously
out Whack
| had scarcely got my head out, when
heavy blow knocked my face down
against the hard snow, causing my ciaret
to run, and adjoining me With beauti-
full pair OF black eyes.
need scarcely say that was soon in
my shell again.
After holding a short counsel of war
with myself, resolved to try another at
tack, this time c DOSING the other exit.
Creeping as slowly and as cautiously
as possible to TIE entrance, put my head
out No''polar." put my shoulder out.
Still no 'polar."
Screwing my head round, saw the
gentleman intentlv watching the outlet
at which he had so unceremoniously salu-
ted me.
In "a second | was out of my hut, nd
rifle in hand, | crept up behind him
Up goes the rifle . my shoulder Crack !
and the"polar' rolls over, with the top
of his head blown off.
l Immediately executed wild dance
of triumph above my fallen enemy, and
when l had exhausted my 5 r,ngth, rushed
in every direction, awakIng my comrades
and calling them to view my polar
Ineed scarcely say that | won my bets,
and from that day to this they have re-
trained from chatting me.
OF course. made as much as possible
of my adventure: indeed, every one firm
ly believed me an intrepid hunter from
that time henceforth and forever.