, 1884-05-01

tAN4 49,
that no noise might betray our presence
sooner THAI was necessary. Every ear was
alert 10 catch the sound Of Climbing iron in
the gloomy frcesses ahead. Several miles
were traversed, and we had begun TO think
the bear had scented US and was travelling
faster than we were, when "Bubp came TO
a sudden halt and raised his hand with a
warming gesture.
Through the stiffness Of the woods came a
faint -clink, clink. clinkl" Every nerve
thrilled with excitement. The bear had
taken the alarm, and was making off.
Nov, boysl' cried Thompson, its a race
'twixt Us and the bar"
On we rushed at a break-neck speed, and in
Anew moments sighted the bear ahead. He
was a huge black fellow, and turned on bis
pursuers with a savage look. UNFORTUNATELY
we were armed only with shot guns, which,
though loaGed with buck-shot, required a
short range to produce any effect on Bruins
thick hide. As we approached the
bear quickened his pace and ran
on his three legs as fast E as we
could on our two. On we few, at our best
speed. Sometimes tumbling over fallen
trees, sometimes plunging to our knees in the
rotten substance of an old log, and rolling
headlong on the other side. Sometimes we
appeared TO be gaining in the race. and the
excitement grew intense, but again the bear
FphAA AhAeANAA no NItth 1Ill ltdNb III DDl
suers behind The forest trees flew by us as
If they We're animated beings. The sweat
rolled in streams down our faces. A mile or
more we had run. and some OF the party, not
being able to keep up the tremendous pace
disappeared in the forest behind.
Butold T~hompson's grit was good. His
gray hair streanied out from under his hat.
while his legs described parabolic curves as
he took tho logs at a flying leap. The old
..- - -. - 49, -
ho jerked out something like: ar rr-run,
d. yer. I'll ca-ca-catch yer, If yer r-r-rrun
to the de-eyil.n. 81 nE r ~
still the boar kept on, not materially
Stacking his speed. Another mile was passed,
when the bear took a turn at a rocky cliff.
"Clank, c!ank, clank y went the trap over
the rocks, we had begun to despair of
ths race when Bruin suddenly came to a
stop. He was completely winded, and the
foam flew from his month. y
We waited the arrival of the rest of our
force and held a council of war. Two or
three of the more reckless of the party de-
cided to begin the attack with clubs, the
usual way Of killing bears when securely
fastened. The old man stood by with his
gun in case the bear should assume the
offensive A couple of clubs welded
by the sturdy arms Of two young back
w~oodsmen, came down on the bears head
with terrible force, but produced no effect
upon his iron-clad skull, except to cause him
to hide his head behind n log.
The meekness OF that bear was a thing of
surprise to ono not acquainted with the n:l-
ture Of the black bear. The blows came
heavier and faster, when one happened to
Light on Bruins nose. Now, the nose is the
tenderest part of "A bears anatomy. Fire
flashed from Bruins eyes, and with a savage
growl he sprang at his torment-
ora Both dropped their clubs and
took to their heels. One in his
headlong flight tripped and fell upon a log.
The bear was upon him in a moment. The
unfortunate man struggled to his feet and
flung out one hand. The bear caught il in
his mouth. and crushed it in his ponderous
jaws. But suddenly leaving his almost vic
tim, he sprang at a huge farmer who had
more ayoirdupois than presence of mind.
The latter was too frightened to. run, and
stood believing with fright like a schoolboy.
"Runl runl" we all yelled at the top of our.
voices. ~ 80
The cry seemed to rouse him to Il sense of
his duty at that critical moment and
he turned and ran for life. But it
would nave been too Into had not the
trap ON the bears foot, at this tuncture,
'caught on a log and checked his course. The
men and the bear had hitherto been in too
close proximity to admit of the use of the
guns, but Thompson now poured the contents
Of both barrels of his breech-loader into the
bears side. He turned and continued his
fight through the woods.
The hand of the wounded man was found
to be badly mangled.a Old Thompson
did it up in a handkerchief with
considerable ~backwoods skill, and the
sufferer, vowing never to engage in
another bear hunt, took the trail homewaid.
4 Dnt ono - gEr. a..AI.-u ...r IN I'll
"Hnllooi BILL we shouted. A faint voice
from the top of one of the tallest trees re-
sponded, and Bill, a slim youth of 10 or 20,
came sliding down.. M
We started in pursuit once more, and soon
came up with the bear, who had stopped to
rest. Another broadside from our breech-
leaders struck him in the cheek. 1t
had been resolved not to try the
clubs again. Bruin WINGED and again
bounded forward. Again we came up with
him and prepared for another attack, when
the bear once more turned sayagely on his
pursuers. 3 "a
"Take to the trees, take to the trees
yelled Thompson. Each man dropped his
gun and sprang into the branches OF II tree
with the agility of a squirrel. The bear,
seeing his enemies out of his reach, once
more continued his flight, but loss of blood
had weakened him, and his hunters easily
kept pace with him, shooting whenever a
good opportunity occurred.
At last a well directed shot sent him
tumbling headlong from a log. He arose with
the life-blood streaming from his jaws, and
sat upon his launches. His prosecutors
gathered close around him.
Just keep out of reach of his paws said
Thompson; "a bar is alters dangerous when
he's dyinip rr
But Bruin showed no further disposition to
modest us, but eyed us with a reproachful
glance as the dark blood poured In q steady
stream from his open mouth and stained his
coat of glossy black with red.
ave might put i'm out OF his misery, " said
Thompson, and placed the muzzle of his gun
against the bears head and pulled the trig-
ger. Bruin fell a mass Of inert bear flesh,
and his spirit fed to that land where
there are no traps, and where plenty of fat