New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-22

not az hilariously IS when they
had entered. There WAS no use
grumblinq, and if one had to 20
they all were ready to go with him.
They could ride over to the canyon
and be back again in less than an
hour, and there would be the fun Of
seeing frightened boy for their
pains.
The moon made it so bright they
were able to lope along at smart
pace, and they were becoming quite
jolly again at the prospective fun they
would have at Toms expense. Would
he still be holding that bag up. waiting
for the birds that didn't come? Hard
", because his torch must have burn
ed out before this time. Would he
be lying down, shivering with terror,
or sitting on his broncho for the sake
of the animals company? Perhaps
they would meet him, trying to find
his way home; or, possibly, if he
had mounted his broncho, the animal
might have followed their tracks into
the canyon, as horses have habit OF
following in the direction they know
other horses to havegone. Whatever
he had done they would soon find out.
They had now nearly reached the
dry bed OF the stream, only short
distance from the entrance to the can
yon, but still no sign of Tom.
II reckon he's still waiting there"
said Sandy, who was ahead; then sud-
denly he brought his horse to a full
stop, with an exclamation of sur
prise.
whats the trouble-do you see
him?" those behind him asked.
A few yards in front of them
there was black object in
the trail. The first thought
was that it was Tom. AS they slow
ly advanced low growl showed their
mistake. Then the black object be-
came two blac; objects. One moved
slowly away, growing, while the other
did not move The one that lay so
quiet was dead bear-the other was
O. live one, and much the larger of the
two.
"Now how this bear got killed since
we went along hereis what beats me-,
said Sandy.
'P'raps the kid shot it, suggested
one of the cowboys.
:'P'raps nothing!" exclaimed Sandy,
contemptuously. "He didn't even
have a shot gun-and if hehad, he'd cut
and run at sight OF bear meat walking
round"
A closer examination, as we'll as they
could make by moonlight, showed the
bear was q young one, aud that there
we're several bullet holes lodged pretty
closely together just back of the fore
legs.
"We'll have to give it up now and
guess the rest of it some other time.
That old she bear is fighting mad-and
sheis making for the canyon just where
Tom is. Ireckon the quicker we get
there the more comfortable it will be
for the kid"
With that they made dash down
into the bed of the stream, up the
steep bank on the other side, and then
straight for the black opening in the
mountain. When they drew rein the
bear was just ahead OF them, and
disappeared with angry threatenlngs,
as though she was more than half d
mind to turn and fight the whole
crowd OF them.
Here was the spot where Tom had
been stationed; here, too, was the bag
with the hoop holding open the mouth,
and the torch tbut partially burned
but Tom was nowhere to be seen.
They shouted at the top of their
voices, but the only answer was the
hOarse echo that Knocked them from
the black recesses OF the canyon be-
yond.
'FI'm not at all scared. boys"
said Sandy, at last, ''but the
kid amt here, and he amt at the
ranch. It looks nightly as though
he had been stampeded by bears, and
the old one himself only knows where
he'd fetch up if there was a bear after
him, or he thought there was. But he
must be somewheres, and that's the
spot we've got to discover"
After a short consultation it was
decided to divide into two parties, one
to go through the canyon and the 9th
er to follow the bed of the stream up
and down for coed distance. Which
ever found Tom was to come back to
the starting point and wait for the
other party, for none OF the men were
particularly anxious to return to the
cabin and face the superintendent
without the boy along with
them. Sandy headed the party
that went through the canyon, while
a cowboy named Briggs was in charge
of the other And it must be confess
ed, there was not man of them who
did not feel little nervous as to what
had become OF Tom, particularly
since they found the bears.
It was after two o'clock in the morn
ing that Briggs and his men returned
to the canyons mouth. Their search
had been fruitless. Shortly after San
dy's party came riding up.
"You found him didn't your"
"You' We got him?"
Sandy and Briggs spoke in the same
breath as they met. There was blank
dismay when Sandy said they ''hadn't
seen hide or hair Of the kid or the
horse.''
There was nothing for it now but to
go back to the ranch and report. It
would soon be DAYLIGHT. and then thew