Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-24
A w coming Bear Story.

Not long ago, this old fellow built
new cabin for himself mt the foot of
mountain. Before his house was fin
ished, he went out one day and killed
fine fat deer. Bringing the carcass home
at night, he hung it up against the back
OF his house. and then hanging
blanket over the doorway which was
still without door. he went TO bed.
He slept soundly, but there dimly
seemed TO HIM to be some disturbance
about the house during the night and
when he went ont in the morning every
b.t of his fine deer was gone, and the
bear tracks mp and down the mountain
side showed what had become of it.
But game was plentiful. and it was not
long before his deer was replaced by Il
bighorned sheep which is the most
tender and juicy meat that ever was
eaten. This time he was more careful,
and lay awake half the night, fearing
that he should lose his stock of fresh
meat. When it was very late and he
was about to give up watching, he at last
heard sound at the back of the house.
Something was at work on his wild
mutton There was noise of scratch
ing and tearing. 1t seemed as if sever
al bears were making short work with
his meat. He seized his loaded rifle
and jumped out of bed with very scanty
clothing on. Going to the doorway and
Il NUN, 81, Ia, ,l-or ba hot
the night was cloudy and rs dark as
Egypt. He stopped and thought for a
moment that it would be impossible to
kill bear in such darkness, even if he
are 81 Tough that they will carry a doz-
en- bullets about in their bodies without
much Inconvenience, if they are not
wounded in the heart or the brain. SO
our friend laid down his rifle and took
instead loaded shotgun. This is the
thing for them. he said to himself; "it
will pepper them all over and scare
them so they never will come again.
Then, with gun in hand, he silently
climbed TIE projecting logs at the near
est corner of the cabin, and, creeping
across the roof, pcoped over the edge
above the place whore the sheep was
hung. Something appeared to be NOV
ing below in the darkness. Taking
random aim. he blazed away
The shot scattered and evidently
took effect; for there arose
chorus of growls and bowls and yells
that would have made the bravcst
mans hair stand on end; there was IA
scampering and shutting of many feet
.p and down, and around the cabin,
even in the thick darkness he could see
many great fat creatures running and
smiling angrily about to find who had
attacked them. He saw that he was
besicgcd on his own roof by at least a
dozen furious, hungry bears. They
didn't scare worth cent, he said 1t
was not long before they discovered
whence the shot had come, and, know
ing very well that there is strength in
numbers, they determined to have that
man for supper, even if they had to
put off their supper Till breakfast time.
So while some sat down here and there,
the others walked about grunting and
growing over their injuries. Bears
can climb quite rs we'll rs men. and
old Frank stood with fear and trem-
bling in the middle of the roof, ready
to receive with the butt of his gun the
first nose that should rise above the
edge. If two had happened to mount
the roof on opposite sides, there would
have beer small chance of life for the
poor man. But the bears thought that
solid ground was the safer place for
them. so there they staid and up above
sat old Frank shivering. how long
he never knew. 1t seemed CEN
turtles. 1t was sharp, frosty
autumn night and. as he had on
very little clothing, Frank was soon
chilled almost TO his bones. But the
bears coats were warm enough. They
were more hungry than they were cold,
so there thcy sat and growlcd and
waited for their prey to come down and
be eaten. Soon a bitterly cold wind
began to blow. Every joint in the poor
mans body st fl'ened; but it seemed
plcasanter to freeze to death than to be
eaten up by those ugly beasts, so he
bore his discomfort rs best he could.
The hours of that night seemed to be
endless. and the chill grew terrible; but
at last dull gray streak appeared in
the East. No man was ever more
glad to see the first sign of dawn than
was that chilly watcher. Bears are
very shy by daylight. and rs the twi-
light little 10y little grew into broad
day, Franks visitors trotted away dis
appointed and sulky up to their dens
on the mountain. Their victim. more
dead than alive. was able at last to
climb down and kindle fire to warm
himself He still lives to tell the story