The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-16

spring and summer time. Tall dead grass
stood high above the snow-taller than our
ponies backs which must have been beauti-
iul Fhen clothed inp green.
We decided at once to descend into the
valley, and in the course oil an hour We
found the mouth Of q canon just at tue
edge Of beautiful plain where we con-
cluded to 20 into camp. Great loose boul,,
ders lay thick in the deep gulch around
Which we wound our way Tor few yards,
when we came TO the mouth Of q cave.
Here we found evidences ofan old camp,
and we congratulated ourselves upon our
good fortune. Howell confessed at once
that he did not like the looks Of the hole
in the hill," and we could trace out huge
tracks partially covered by recent SHOWS,
but We banished oil thoughts oil grizzly
bears from our mind and settled down TO
business at once.
Our ponies were soon roofing down into
the snow and fetching up tufts OF rich
green grass, which they ate with relish:
After getting settled, the snow cleared
away, the tents stretched over some poles
laid across the rock, and everything as
comfortable as possible. Howell took his
carbine and wandered oil along the edge Of
the timber. He had scarcely disappeared
from view when we heard the crack OF his
gun, and herd OF blacktailed deer bound
ed away across the plain leapihg high over
the tall grass. With guns in hand we ran
10 Howell and found him "locked horns ;
with a large wounded buck. He had
thrown down his gun, supposing his game
TO be dead and with knife in hand he rushed
mn to stick him, but the buck rallied and
Howell found him to be the liyeliest corpse
he ever saw. Howell had been forced into
the brush and among the rocks and the
buck could not force his broad horns where
his enemy could crawl. dis hind legs were
broken, and Howell had given him several
thrusts with his long knife but still he
fought, and the moment we appeared lie
left Howell and made q bold dash at us,
He could only drag his hinder parts and
we couId easily get out OF hi1 way, 80 We
gave him ball which ended the matter.
He was the largest deer we had yet seen,
and, a few moments alter he became stiff,
we stood him up beside one oil our ponies
the smallest one-and he lacked but
little OF being as high as the pony. This
was encouraging and we lit our pipes and
manifested our satisfaction by smoking I'M
III late in the nlgnt.
Our ponies had been allowed TO roam
about the place at will through the day
and we tied them in the mouth Of the cave
that night.
Before dark we discovered the following
words cut in rude letters, deep in the bark
OF tree:
Jacks Valley. Discovered by Trapper
Jack, in 1850"
We concluded that for our better pro-
lection, we would take turns at standing
guard. We had all stood our time and
Cooper was on watch when about3 o'clock
in the morning he gave us shake and in
hoarse, hurried whisper he said:
"Boys! Boys! Get your guns quick.
There's something in this cave"
In an iDsant we were on our feet with
cooked carbines.
"What did itsound like" we asked excit-
eddy.
Sound like. Great goodness didn't you
hear lt2 Why a dead man could have
heard that. Itell you there's Indians, beara,
lions, and gang OF wolves in that hole"
For long time We sat watching, waiting
in silence for some monster TO thunder
from the mouth OF that cavern, and once,
while everything was quiet as the grave,
save the rustic Of the leaves in the tree
tops, we thought We could detect low
growing sound away back in the bowels Of
the mountain, and we all inyoluntarily
whispered in concert:
There listen hear that ?"
This broke the silen0e, which had be.
come painful, and We drew together around
the fire, which we replenished by throwing
on some pine knots. Our ponies, too,
seemed to be alarmed, for they pricked up
their ears and moved in way that gave US
to understand that there was more than
imagination in the alarm. Until day
break, We sat with our guns in our hands,
and only laid them aside when we could
see plainly into the opening OF the cave.
Alter hearty breakfast OF venison, We
left Cooper to WATCH the camp, with the UNI
derstanding that should we be wanted at
camp, he could fire two shots in rapid sue.
cession. Takiny different directions, we
assembled the mountains, and had gone
but half mile from the camp, when l
saw deer lying down In some bushes.
Dropping fiat in the snow, Hay quietly for
a moment, then | raised my gun and peer
ing along It's barrel, l saw the deer had
arose, and was sanding broadside toward
me, aiming low, ! fred, and With a bound
the deer sprang forward and fell dead. ]
soon had her entrails cut, and tying her
legs together, | shouldered her up aud
started to Fetrlpe my steps,
had gone but . few steps when, bang,
bang came the report OF two shots
in rapid succession. They were not just in
the direction OF the camp. and | stopped
short and listened for moment. Then
bending under my load fastened forward
and soon again lsne the report OF two
more shots this time farther up the Inoun'
tain, and was at loss to understand their
meaning. Turning In the direction OF the
sound, l made all haste possible, and l was
surprised al coming al at ones upon my
tyo comrades well up the mountain side
with the three ponies all packed With our
entire camp fixtures and alxiously waiting
for me to to turn up.
"Why, what's up boys?" l asked in sur
prise.
'Grizzlie.! we've been camping with gIi..
Elies,l wouldn't stay there another hour for
all the deer in the mountains, Why, you
had not been gone ten minutes before he
began darndest roar and growing ever
the ponies and clearing opt the camp, and
| tell you think did mighty well to get
aut OF that holleE as well as I did.
! felt yeyed and tried 70 Tenonstrate
with Cooper, and intimate that be was Q
coward, but when he went on and told how
he saw "his eyes shine back In the cave"
and how frantic the ponies became soon
sided with him, and We concluded to re.
tpFp " sacs e the fort and let deer hunt.
Ing alone.
We had two deer, one very large and the
other small one, and after tying my doe
on one Of the ponies, wa staFted Tor camp,
where we arrived late that night and enter.
tanned the boys with narrative Of our ex-
perience ard description Of the country,
until long after midnight, and many we're