Morris tribune., 1886-11-24


through my brain of putting an en-
to, my wretched existence.
At last determined that instead {
returning home to brood oyer my sol
row, | would strike off by myself int
the woods, and redeem my reputatio
by taking hoaie at night some troph
of my skill.
The soothing sunshine and deliciou
air by degrees restored my equanimity
and hope was high in my bosom.
scanned all the ravines closely, an
looked wisely on the ground for track
of beasts. | rode long and far, ant
when the sun was high threw mysel
beside little spring that bubbleC
from the rocks, and ate my luncheon
allowing my horse to Craze near me
On my right was a small patch q
green heritage, across which the tai
pines cast d sombre shadow. Their
was not a sound except that OF tn
horse feeding. | was too high for, birds
| they were below in the valleys, though
now and then vulture sailed majesti
cally around some distant peak. TIL,
loneliness and silence OF the place be
gan to be oppressive.
Suddenly there was rustic in tht
tall grass under the pines. Looking
up saw the head of deer. l seizeC
my rifle, and, leveling it, fired with 6
steady hand. A deafening report
crashed through the stiffness, anG
there escaped into the air a white
deer! / sprang to the place. In the
bloodstained grass lay the noble an
imal, struggling with death.
felt q thrill ofseperstitious horror;
something as an cid Egyptian must
have felt had he killed unwittingly the
sacred ibis, or the Ancient Mariner
when he slew the albatross. | tried
to staunch the blood, but the muir
derous ball had done it's work too
well. Hardly knowing what did, !
took the head of the dying creature
into my lap. In the large soft eyes
were reflected the rocks and the sway
ing gpines. AS the breath grew fainter the
head turned with a convulsive move
ment, and the fast glazing eyes looked
into mine with gaze so human in its in
telligence that was almost crazed with
grief and terror. | hurried from the
spot, only TO find that my horse, prob
ably frightened by the rifle-shot had
disappeared. | was alone and miles
from home.
! discovered, too, that l lacked one
of the most necessary requisites Of the
true hunter-ability to find my way
Under all circumstances.
1t was already afternoon. I start
ell to go back on foot the way had
come as nearly as l could remember
it. When l reached a point high
enough to command a view | did not
feel reassurei, for the mountains look
ed all alike, and range after range
stretched away on every side, silent
and relentless as the tomb. There was
not living thing in sight but buz-
zard circling about far-off peak.
At last set off in direction where
| thought | recognized familiar rocks.
The killing of the white hart weighed
heavily upon my spirits, and filled me
with vague fears. The stories of the
night before added to my uneasiness.
There was the danger that | might
meet bear. I had my rifle and three
dozen cartridges in my belt. bat Uncle
John had said: Give grizzlies wide
berth"
What could / do if l met one?
The way grew more and more in
tricate. Now | had to climb over
powders, and now force my way
through tangled under growth, from
which | emerged into the shadow of
pines so gloomy that twilight seemed
to have fallen.
There was a crashing of bushes, as
Of some heavy body pushing itself
through. [ tried to run, but the
of the ground made me
at every step.
The noise came nearer. 1knew that |
t could be nothing but bear, and |
every other anxiety was swallowed up |
n present terror. remembered that |
grizzlies do not climb unless the tree
s neither too large nor too small.
Ten yards to the left stood a slen-
ler tree. with trunk clear for fifteen
eet.
I Isprang toward it, and although I
lad never been able to climb a tree be- |
ore, l climbed now without moment |
If hesitation, and scrambled to a seat |
among the branches. [ shook so
that l had to hold on bv
main force to keep from falling. Ihad |
'een there probably thirty seconds
when there shuffled from the bushes,
With awkward but impressive gait, g.
nonstrous grizzl Y bear.
had dropped my gun in the excite
nent, and even had l kept it I should
lo5 have dared to fire. AS the great
'east shambled along l saw that he
vas lame. It was old Clubfoot, the
error and autocrat fthe mountains.
lie was headed directly for my tree.
Iy blood curdled and my breath STOP
'ed. have no distinct recollection
# the next few seconds. Heapproach.
d within ten feet of my hiding place,
olling his heavy head from side to
ide as if aware Of an unseen foe. Then
e passed on and was lost among the
rees.
remained motionless for nearly an
our fearing to descend. Then crept
oiselessly in the direction whence old
lubfoot had come. My rifle, which
aust have fallen against the prostrate
runk by which found it, was broken
hort off at the breech, the bear hav-
lg struck at it with his paw in pass
lg.
Imagine my surprise when l emerged
'om among the trees to find the same
title grass plot where had killed the
eer. At first could not believe 1t,
ut there was the spring with the rock
Y which had sat, and the remains
my luncheon lay scattered on the
'ound. was tired, as we'll as weak
nd nervous, after the fright the bear
ad given me. But 1t was becoming O.
uestion of life Or death, and | was 4
OF willing to die. Carefully gathering !
he scraps of bread and meat l had /
lrown away, l resolved to follow the {
earest canon down to it's mouth, {
hich l was sure would lead me out i
to the open country somewhere. I
The sides were so steep that l had 6
} let myself down by clinging to roots s
nd overhanging branches. l Iplodded t
4 doggedly. In the heart of the can |
rs unnumbered horrors lurked, and {
le rocky walls rose on each side of |
~ 4