The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-27
BEAR HUNT.

NOV fo,r a DeaS i,nrht,% lAaia >esorg. .
t'aston--a fine looking boy OF sixteen.
aboard the whale-ship Junior, anchor
ed off one Of the islands of the Aleutlan
Archipelago, near which many whales
had lately been seen.
Gaston was the captains son,
He was daring boy, fond of advent
uie, .-. .
But he was tired Of whale-hnnting,
and, like lad OF spirit as he WAS, he
felt a strong desire to engage in some
perllous fight with bear or other fierce
animal in which he alone would have
chance to win the "laurcl OF victory
l"f, with the natural confidence of youth,
hardly doubted that he would come off
conqueror in any such encounter
eve did not come here for them: We
came Tor OIL"
On the next day white bear was for
All instant seen, far in the distance. as
1T moved along an elevated ridge Of ice
covered rock
George requested his father to permit
him to go and killed the animal.
"Better ask me to let you 20 and get
killed by the ANIMAL" said the captain.
81 can tell you, my boy, that hun
cry white bear is not quite so easy to
make away with as you think.
"However, will set out with party
OF my men this afternoon, after that
bear. and you may go with u.s.
But George did not like this arrange
ment for as previously stated, he wanted
T." fight The bear single-handed.
1t then occurred to him that it would
l'e capital thing to get the start of his
fathers men, and to attack end kill the
bear before they could come up.
He therefore coaxed his parent, until
al last he won his consent to let him set
ont couple of hours before the others.
Don't go far" said Captain CASTOR,
"but stop and wait for us before you
ARE ont of sight of the ship"
George said ho would do so.
When the time came for his starting,
he jumped into the whale boat, and was
pulled to the shore.
He wore pair Of high. boots, corilu-
roy trousers, thick seal-skin Jacket.
with horn buttons, and fur cap. r.
Around his waist was broad leather
belt IN which was thrust long knife,
and he also carried a good rife.
II told father would wait for him.
he muttered, as he walked on, after
gaining the shore, land SO / will," but
think the bear will appear before he
and Ills men come.
"lf I see the animal, 1 shall attack
it,"
On he went, with his rifle half.cock.
Ho had proceeded some distance ere
he noticed that he was out Of sight of
the ship
He then made pause aud looked
e"gerly around him, hohing to sec the
haar.
Standing near the edge of grour of
conlcal rocks, he did not observe a .par-
ty OF natives who were approaching,
until they suddenly emerged around the
angle formed by one of the ragged
masses. .,t.....r 49, H., s. ,,...
They wore seal-skin coats, caps and
leggings, and had fish-bone rings lin
their ears.
They were short of stature, with square
faces, high cheok-bones, and small keen
eyes.
On seeing him, they gathered round
him, speaking deep gutt,,ra! voices, but
. he could only shake his head to imply
that he did not understand them.
He anticipated no trouble with them,
for they had the appearance OF belong
ing to tribe whose people had visited
the ship for trade, since she came to
nnchor off the island.
He was therefore surprised and DIS
mayed when ono of them suddenly
snatchea his rifle from his grasp.
Ere he could romonstrate, he was
hurled down on his back, and, while
two of the natives held him, another
proceeded to search his pockets.
A small pocket looklng-glass, a comb,
tive-dollar gold-piece, and q jacket
knife. all of which seemed to delight
these Indians, were thus obtained from
the boy
The long hunting-knife in his belt
was not disturbed; the plunderers did
not want thst, as they had such articles
OF their own. n,
Haying robbed him, they tied his
wrists behind his back with stout thongs
OF walrus hide cut from line Of this