The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-05-13


,be bear, vowing that he would not
come back without either the child or
the BEARS hide.
The news went like wildfre through
the settlement. I'm an hour ard a hall n
dozen men, with their dogs, were on the
track with Rush. 1t was 20 much tror-
bic for him to follow the trail that they
soon overlook him, with the help OF the
dogs,
But in spite Of them the bear got
into the mountains T"o OF the dog
got up with him and enc, the only one
that could follow n scent had his back
broken by a stroke Of his paw. Alter
that il ww almost impossible 10 track
him, and one ater another the hunltl-
gave up ard returned home.
At last Rush WAS left alone, but
nothing could induce him to turn back
He shot some small game in the noun
taips, which he cooked for bis supper,
slcpt on the ground and started on the
trail again in the morning.
Wong in the forenoon he came IN
sight Of the bear as he was crossing 4
stream. He had II good shot at him as
he was climbing the bank on the other
side.
The bear kept ON, but it was easier
tracking him alter That by his blood.
That evening 4 hunter, haggard, his
clothes all in tattcrS, found his way to a
backwoodsman hut over Ia White
Valley. II was Rush. lie told his
stay in few words as he rested on a
stool. He had found no traces OF his
child, but he had killed the bear. 1T
was old Two Claws. He had left him on
the hills and come 10 the settlement for
help.
The hunt had taken him round
about course, ard he was then not more
than seven miles from home. The next
day, gun in hand with the bcarskin
strapped to his back--the carcass had
been given to his friend, the backwoods-
mamie started to return by an easier
way through the woods.
1t was sad revenge he had had, but
there was grim sort of satisfaction in
bringing home the hide Of old Two
Claws.
As he came in sight of his log house,
out ran his wife to meet him, with
what do you suppose little Johnny
dragging at her skirts, and the lost child
in her arms.
Then for the first time, the man
dropped, but he didn't get down any
further than his knees. He chung TO
his wife and baby and thanked God for
the miracle,
But it wasn't much Of a miracle, after
all.
Little Johnny had been play ny around
the door, and lost SIGHT of the baby
and, maybe, forgotten all about him
when no strayed into the woods and saw
the bear. Then he remembered all that
he had heard Of the danger of being
c,rricd of and eaten, and Of course he
had terrible fright. When asked about
his little brother he didn't know any
thing about him, and, | suppose, really
imagined that tho bear had got him.
But the naby had crawlct into Il snug
place under the side of tire rain trough,
and there he WAS, fast asleep all the
while. When lie woke, two or three
hours after, and his mother heard him
cry, her husband was far away ON the
hunt.
"True this story I've told?' added
the one.eycd hostler, az some ono quc5-
toned him. Every word Of i'll"
But your name is Rush, isn't il?'
said.
The one eye twnklcd humorously.
My name is Rush, My uncle'F
hroihcr-in law was my own father"
And you?' exclaimed bystander.
81 >" said the ono eyed hostlcr, cam
the very man who warn't eaten Ivy the
bear when was q baby