The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-05-18
A BEAR HUNT.

IL WASH a regular bear hunt; that is,
[ didn't do nearly as much hunting as
she bear did. Ibid not start out intend
ing to hunt. He did. Invent to get the
butter, when But am getting ahead
Of my story 1t was whenI was about
thirteen years old that my father took
my brother and myself camping with
him In the Adirondacks. We pitched
Dur tent at the head of Little Topper
Lake. There was aspiring of fine cold
water not. far back in the woods. So.
after making our beds out of pine
boughs, building fire and setting up
the table. we went down to the spring
and put our butter-which was in a tin
pail fitted with a water-tight cover--iri
it to keep cool. 5e,s.4s s.s;..a
All went well for the first few DAYS.
Father and brother win (who was fif-
teen) shot deer SO that we had plenty
Of venison. The guide caught guam
lily OF trout, and we were enjoying our
selves SO thoroughly that we began to
dread the time when we should have to
return home. iEsa..I .ss1.sfl
Cant we stay longer than two
weeksT' | asked father one morning.
Wen stay until the butter gives
out" he replied, laughing.
The nearest place to get butter was
twenty miles away, and as it was disap-
pearing rapidly, owing to the appetites
of growing boys, father had already
warned us of the necessity of economy
in that direction. We were, after that.
very sparing in our use ofbutter, and it
seemed to bid fair to last longer than
the promised two weeks. AS the guide
was preparing supper; one evening.
father said; ..Will. I wish you would
go down to the spring and get some
water; and. Charlie you go. too, and
bring up some butter" It was q sim
pie request, but thereby hangs the tale
of my first and only bear hunt. l.sll. -
We, started of, and soon came to the
spring. The path led around it into 4
thicket of huckleberry bushes. VIII
proposed that we should pick some for
supper. We plunged into the thicket,
and were soon busy picking the deli
cious fruit. We had not been occupied
IN this manner very long when we
heard crashing in the bushes near the
spring. and as we looked back we saw
q great black bear. He. was. not fifty
feet away from us, and was gazing into
che spring with q eomplacent air. I ] d
He's looking at himselfn said
VIII. :. : ! =
oiss See him grin" Il replied. divided
between fear and curiosity.
Thinks he's handsome" whispered
Will. el 7ofill9 sd .saFfs a0is1iitsss
Bruin, looked over in our direction
with an ANNOYED expression. and We
decided to suspend our remarks AZ ~
his personal appearance untilsome more
time-when he was further
away, in fact. He continued to peer in
emily into the spring. and we were be-
ginning to get impatient, when. TO DIR
horror. he slowly extended his nav.
and without much trouble fished IN orr
butter pail. He calmly seated f,ip,s ssii
2n the ground, and taking the. pail be- |
.Ween his hlnd-paws, regarded it re-
1eetiveiy for q few moments. He \
'e e n LOST ~ thought, Then he
smiled blandly, and slowly passed one
y his strong fore-claws around the rim
q the pail He repeated the operation,
while VIII and l looked on in despair.
Z, May De e.can't get the top off,
whispered Will.
He had hardly spoken when, with
light rattle, the cover fell to the
Will groaned. The bear
'auseu, looked puzzled, smelIed the
, ! s...s suspaclouslyf ana sat looking at
WIN inc az OF q scientific inyesti-
'a.or,
ne tninKs mat II IS oleomargarine,n
sIspe.eu W. D
put no. 4 bruln did for moment |
.ouDt the integrity OF our butter, his
49,. 9 ~; nau sanlsneu' Ior with one sweep
wn hounds ~ egnus ;n ne lranslerred about
~ 49,. podnu1 49, = = inIo lls mouth. Will
;t odn. 1uin paused ana 70 our ex-
!. i.ea 1ln aginatlons looked In our direc-