The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-04-17

$50 the drug-man laughed, and
says the stuff in the bottle was some
thing of the same sort, only they
weren't to be mentioned in the same
day for strongness-or If you made
any comparison at all, it would be to
compare the smelling salts to the small
est mite of a baby, and that ammonia
to its big Goliath Of a greatgreat-
grandfather.
II didn't smell it, but started for
home with Old Blacky and father on
my mind-Old Blacky. to see if /
couldn't find her and get that three
dollars, and father, because | wanted
to get back as quick as | could
''lt seemed rougher going back over
the hills than it had comiDg-I sup
pose because [ was little tired. Some
times the way was through pastured
lots; but mostly it was over fallow
ground, bushy and stumpy, and plenty
OF rocks, but not many trees. There
wasn't any roadway.
II hadn't got near to the summit
when | saw something that made me
stop short--something behind rocks
and bushes, down in kind of little
hollow There were no leaves on the
bushes, you know; so | could see some
thing through them that looked like
black hair.
81 went little nearer and looked a
little harder. and then off with my cap
and swung it round, and sung out; -
'Hurrah for that three dollars %
yours, Squire Plummer!' Then
called: Co boss, CO. boss, CO. boss
Come. G,ackey, Gomez -
'.But the old thing wouldn't stir. I
picked up some little stones and SHE'D
EN- at her to hurry her up. / didn't
want to lose time, but / did want to
drive her home with me for fear some
one else might get ahead of me if left
her and then came back. hollered to
her and kept on throwing; but still she
wouldn't bulge an inch.
Then | thought I'd slide down the
side of the hollow she was in and get
ahead of her and drive her out. L tried
rolling down a lot of stones and gravel
first, almost over her head, to see if
that wouldn't start her; but it didn't.
So began sliding myself down.
"But just then | heard growl-such
growl as no mortal cow ever made
yet, know. And there began such a
scratching of gravel and such a scrab-
bling up that bank, mixed up with
growls all the time, that | scrambled
myself up pretty lively and started and
run, / tell you.
"When got little piece off, I
looked back, and just getting to the top
of the bank was Old Blacky; but it
wasn't black COW. 1t was a black
bear, suress you live!''
Tom paused moment to enjoy the
little ripple of astonishment and dismay
which came in Just here.
/ ''You'd better believe / ran. But it
was hard work-up hill, and rough, too.
tumbled over logs and I jumped
through bushes, and he trotting after
me all the time, mad, [ suppose, with
the pummeling and stirring up I'd given
him, growing like a young thunder
storm all the while.
''Soon began to feel how tired my
walk had made me, and to wonder how
it would be with me if I got clear tired
out before the bear did, as seemed very
likely.
when I knew I couldn't hold out
much longer made for tree and
climbed up itquicker'n ever clim' a
! tree before. or since. As
Then Tried to catch my breath and
think q bit. was glad to be out OF
reach of the bear; but wondered how
long he might keep me up that tree
before any one came to look for me,
and / thought of father wanting the
medicine, and if you'll believe me, ]
thought, too, about that blamed old
COW and the three dollars / wasn't
going to get for finding her.
''But it don't take long to think, you
know, for I'd thought all that before
| he got to the feotof the tree, and it was
a mighty little while, too; and when be
did get there, he walked round it. and
i smelled a little, and the first thing ]
knew, he was clawing away at the
bark, and climbing up after me, fierce.
'.Then I began TO think harder than
ever. I'd read of a boy who was up a
| tree, with bear after him, and he
j elm out on some weak limbs, where
j the bear had sense enough to know he
couldn't go, and he kept the poor little
chap there, growing at him CT mean
/ buS DOt ]. blll SOtllG Ou6 sGdluG duu SuOt
him (shot the bear, 1 mean.) But this
wasn't that kind of tree. The limbs
were stubby, and | knew the bear could
go most as far as could
81 looked down to see what chance
I'd have if / swung myself down, and
got n new start of him; but the tree
was a tall one, and it was all stony
under the branch where | was. If
should get sprain or hurt. it would
be all up with me. So my only chance
was to keep out of his way the best |
could. I put my hand into my pocket
to get out my knife, for / wasn't going
to 1et him get the better of me without
a tussle. .e..s
Then, what do you guess I feltF
and what do you guess | thoughtF
Why. I felt that bottle of ammonia, and
/ thought of that time in church. And
crackyi if could help laughing right
out, as / thought if could only get il
ON that bear as I'd got it on myself
long ago II all that man said was
true. perhaps 'twould send him kitin'
down as good as if he'd been. shot. tie
~ poured a lot of it on my handker-
chief, most all there was, looking out
/ I-n,.- = l. t..