The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-18

sport was to wind up with bear hunt,
at which it was expected that every man
and his dog would be present. And they
were. Never was such crowd of men
seen since or before on the banks of the
lake. For a radius of ten miles they
came to see and participate in the sport.
A goodly sprinkling of the fair sex lised
the shore, and received the champions
with applause, as, arrayed in their
bathing suits, they appeared upon the
scene, and awaited the signal to plunge
into the water. Tom Langan sat in his
boat, over which foated the National
flag, so broad and expansive that it al
most hid him and the boat from view.
The lake was quarter of mile broad,
and whoever reached the opposite shore
first, where Mary. the umpire, stood, was
to be declared the victor. The signal
was given, and at the same in
stant both leaped into the lake.
Good practical swimmers they were,
and side by side they kept together un-
til they were about halfway across. At
this point Fred, by a splendid squirt,
shot half dozen lengths ahead of his
opponents, and kept it up until he
reached the shore. Desperate were the
efforts of Mr.. Eldridge to overtake him,
cheered on by the friendly voice Of Tom
Langan, who kept alongside of him in
the boat. He swan gallantly, and was
within few yards of the shore, when
Tom suddenly, and in an excited and
trembling voice, roared out:
"Look out, Mr.. Eldridge! There is a
big serpent after you! Quick! Swim for
your life! 0, begorra, he has you'll"
Tom made stroke with the dart at
soome imaginary object in the water, the
boat rocked almost to upsetting, the
large flag fell over him, hiding him COM
pletely from the view of those on shore,
and quickly snatching the turtle which
he had hid in the boat, he deposited him
plump on the posteriors of Mr.. Eldridge.
His thin bathing draws were but poor
protection against the angry snap of the
turtle. With yell he cut through
the water and reached the shore.
His eyes were shooting from their
sockets, his hair standing on end, and
with the turtle still hanging to his rear,
he broke through the astonished crowd.
At every step cry of agony burst from
him, and as the crowd followed the dogs
joined in the chase, yelping and yelling
and making the woods ring with their
hideous noise. The path he followed led
directly to Mr.. Somers' house, and Mary,
who had been hastily placed in Johns
buggy, reached there with her brother
just as Mr.. Eldridge came within sight of
the dwelling, followed by the hunters
and dogs. Tom was there also, and in
his excitement flung open the door of the
hog-pen, from which emerged an old SOW
and litter of young ones. With bris-
ties erect and open mouth, followed by
her grunting brood, she rushed at Mr..
Eldridge, as painting and screaming he
approached her. He was Immediately
upset, and fortunately for himself,
fell on his face, the turtle and
SOW on top Of him. The SOW grabbed
with her tusks for somebody or some
thing, and came in contact with the back
of the turtle. The latter, resenting the
indignity, turned and succeeded in
clenching his teeth in the sow's throat,
whereupon she started to the woods with
her enemy clinging to her, knocking
down men, women and dogs in her reck-
less race.
Mr.. Eldridge was picked up insensible
and borne to the house, where he re-
manned in bed for two days. On the eve
ming of the second day he packed his
trunks and took the midnight train for
New York.
Tom Langan not only danced at Fred's
wedding, but also received kiss from
the bride and $10O from the groom, as
part payment of the debt they owed him
for the original manner in which he
foiled "the city chap" and broaght about
the wedding.