, 1886-03-06
THE BEAR AND THE MULE.
DETAILS OF A CONFLICT WHICH WAS
FOUGHT TO A FINISH.

The Hear sninsd at the Heels Of a Doeiis
Old Muie-whersupon tho Mule Did
Battle with the Weapons which Nature
Had ProvIded-A Tussie.
Ike Carney and Eph Durham, brawny
w~oodchoppers OF the upper Lehigh timber
region, took n team of mules the other
lay and began to draw railroad ties from
the woods ont to the main road. Along
in the afternoon they let the mules stand
IN the wood road while they went ahead to
tut down !. lot OF ~saplings. Presently they
saw a black pea trampling through the
snow in the rear of the sleigh. When the
bear reached the sleigh he turned TO the
right, walked past 1t, and shifted Mt the
heels OF the old mule. The mule. who APP
peared to DO sleeping when the bear wad-
died up, stuck up his ears at once, raised
his right hind foot like n fash, and gave
the bear n terrific kick in the neck. The
bear tumbled over In the snow, partially
stunned by the blow, the sharp calks OF
the mules shoe having cut and bruised
the flesh directly behind his right ear.
Durham and Carney laughed heartily
at the mules peculiar conduct, for he had
always been n very docile animal, and
ran down to the team at once. Meantime
lnt DthT uAu IttONtItu lfOm tnt MIN ~
got on his feet again, and was looking
around To see where he was and to find out
what had hit him. The mule turned his
head and got a glimpse OF the bear just as
Dunhnm and Carney came down to the
sleigh. The sight seemed to enrage the
mule, for he became restless. He reared
up, plunged forward, and tried to yank
himself away from his mate. Every mo-
ton indicated that he wanted to be let
loose on the bear.
"Say we onharness him and let him
fight the bear II he wants TO- remarked
Carney.
"All right" said Durham, wen do it,"
Durham then jumped to the mules
head and ~unsnapped the lines. In an
other second the hame strap and the
belly-band were unbuckled, and the mule
slipped from under the harness with
nothing on except the headstan and col
lar. Then the mule turned straight
around and made for the bear with all his
might. He lunged forward with so much
force and speed that he went right
over the bears back before he stopped.
The bear did not attempt to get away,
but stood upon his launches and was
ready TO fight as soon as the mule turned
upon him.
ADVANCING Ill o III
The mule struck at the bear savagely
with both forward feet, but the bear
lodged and thus escaped the blow. Then
the bear rushed at the mule, uttering a
grunt OF anger as he did so, and tried to
strike him In the breast. The mule, how
ever, showed more anger and grit than
the bear did, and, as the latter came
toward him, he struck the bear IN the
shoulder with one of his sharp calks, and
the bear. grooming with pain from the
blow, backed away. The mule quickly
followed up the advantage he had gained.
and the bear tumbled backward over a
log, making the snow fly. The mule
leaped over the log and struck the bear
on the back with both fore feet before he
had time to get up, but he paid dearly for
IL. for the bear twisted his head around
and got the mules right foreleg between
his jaws and bit 1t badly
Durham and Garyey, who mad the ut
most confidence in the mules ability to
conquer the bear, kept at a safe distance
and watched the fight closely. While the
bear was trying to crush the bone in the
mules leg the mule bit the bear's ear and
made the blood run. A moment later the
mule succeeded in yanking his leg from
the bears jaws, p%ranced around In the
snow after he had dom so, and appeared
TO be madder han eyes. Then the two
Infatuated animals came together again.
As the mule raised his frsnt feet to strike,
the bear sprang under his body, knocked
his hind legs from under him, and tum-
blod him over on his side. The mule
scrambled to his feet in n second, rushed
up TO the bear. and gave him such o
tremendous thump on the nose that II
made the bear staggcr and roar. He was
not ready to retire from the conflict,
though, and rs he made another effort to
strike the mule the blood spurted from
his n%ostrils, He stuck his nose into the
snow and groaned loudly, and the mule
stood of a few feet and eyed him steadily.
Presently the bear raised his head and
plunged at his antagonist again. The
mule wheeled suddenly as the bear ap
preached him, and, turning his tail toward
the bear, Kicked him in the jaw with one
OF his hind feet and keeled him over on his
back, Before he could get on his feet
again tho mule had begun TO stamp ON
him with his sharp calks. The bear
struggled desperately to get away from
the terrible blows which his long-eared
antagonist dealt him, hut his efforts were
useless, Tn bear was getting weaker,
and, when Durham and Garyey ran 10
the spot and dubbed the mule OF, was
unable 10 rise and wa moaning %piteously
Garvey ut ono hit the bear on the top OF
the head with the back OF his nx, and put
al end to his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Cor
respondenoe.