Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-07

Not If | know myself" said /.
why, you're not afraid of that little
cub, hope? If you are, you are bigger
coward than took you to be-"
NO" said |, "I'm not afraid of cub,
but there is room in there for more than
one bear, and had rather believe there
Is a dozen in it than one."
We'll, if you're going to back down
that way" said he. "it's hardly worth
while to go bear-hunting"
|Well, said /, back down, or anything
You choose to call it, I'm not going into
that brush thicket"
do you want me to go in by myself"
No said l, "and Furthermore, think
you're a fool If you do it."
What do you propose doing''
You see that rock some fifty feet in
height, which stands on the opposite side
of the thickett Well, we will go around
and climb to the top OF that rock, on the
further side; when once we are on the top
We can cut a piece of leather from the
top Of my old boot and make a sling and
throw rocks all through that thicket with
ease; and when they come out we can
have fair shot, and can load and fire
several times before they could get to US
in case they should try"
Good" said Uncle John, "that's the
idea"
And away we went for the summit OF
the rock, and commenced sending a
shower of rocks down into the thicket.
This soon brought two large grizzlies to
the foot Of the rock, where they stood on
their hind feet and growled, each display
ing full set OF ivory. told Uncle John
IL, i 1N,,.I AT-a.u
our rifles to our faces at the same time,
when told Simon to take the largest one
right in the breast. Our rifles both fired
at exactly the same moment-so near so,
at least, that the report sounded like that
Of one rifie-and the bear fell to the
ground.
"Now's your time, Uncle john" said /,
-down with that other one"
Uncle John raised his rife to his face,
and with long and deliberate aim shot
and missed the whole body of the bear
which fact he could not deny, as the ball
knocked the dust up some four feet be-
yond. Uncle John swore that the sight
OF his gun was moved. The wounded
bear tumbled around and soon got his
pins under him and went back in the
brush, and with all the noise we could
make and and all the rocks that we could
throw, they refused to come out again.
Simon, at asst getting tired Of the sport,
swore that he would "rout 'em out of
that" Sc he went to camp and got a
horse, and dog which knew about as
much about bear-hunting as a big wharf
rat
When he returned he said, Here
Harry, now you get on the horse and
drive 'em out, and I'll stand up here and
kill"
Now" said l, Simon, you just do the
bringing yourself, for I've told you
several times that l am not going into
that brush, and would advise you not
to GO"
"Yes," said he, you'd advise a darn
sight; you've proved yourself coward
today"
yes" said !, "and you'll prove yourself
a fool before night"
So Simon rode in on the opposite side of
the rhicket as far as he could get, raised
his gun and fired. A bear gave a trem-
endous howl and commenced threshing
the bush as though he was just kicking
his last Simon rode out and swore that
he was the boy to kill bears, reloaded his
gun and rode back; and after riding
twelve or fifteen yards into the ticket, a
large grizzly rose up from behind some
sage brush and made pass at Simons
bride reins The horse lodged the lick
and turned to run, but got tangled in the
brush and fell The bear caught the
ham and extracted a mouthfull of steak,
causing the horse to rise, kicking and
plunging, which soon removed Simon
ha hao 70 ha pl
Simon fell fiat on his back, but rose run
ming. However, it was but the work of
an instant for the bear to overtake and
bend him down, which he did, standing
with his forefeet on each side of him and
biting him wherever he chose.
The moment saw the horse fall l
started from the top of the rock, where
had been SO comfortably seated, watch
ing the maneuyer, to the rescue of ST.
mon.
The reader will bear in mind that it
was an impossibility for me to go straight
to Simon. as TIE rock was perpendicular
on the side next to the bear den, so had
90 run around the way / came up on to
the rock, which made the distance some
$50 yards and over anything but smooth
road. as | had to jump from six to eight
there without breaking my oones-God
only knows how did 1t, for it has al
ways been q mystery to me.
found Simon lying on his face, just on
the edge of the brush, and the bear stand
ing over him chewing the back Of his
y ad. Without making any halt,
rushed upon the bear, and was just plac-
ing the muzzle of my rifle to the side of
his head when the bear discovered me for
tn, first time. Then, quick as lightning,
II such speed Is possible, the bear left
Simon and spranG toward me with his
mouth wide open. jerked my gun back
just in time to jam the muzzle be-
tween his jaws and as far down his
throat as l could get it con-
veniently, when 1 pulled the trigger.
The bear fell by the side of Simon.
jumped over the bear and turned Simon
over and asked him if he was hurt much.
All the reply he made was, there's more
in the bushes" and he rose and started to
run. His words proved true, for, looking
up, l saw two large grizzlies coming to-
ward me; just had time to pick up ST.
mons gun, and by stepping back as set
lock and trigger, to shoot the foremost on
in the neck, which dropped him instantly.
The other was so near me that did not
have time to draw my revolver, SO
struck him across the nose with the bar
rel, which stunned him until had time
to draw my pistol, which did, and gave
him, as luck would have it, a dead shot .
He fell to the ground, gasping and trem-
bling, but for fear Of his coming to life,
"a the one did In tha morning. / gave him