The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-01-27
A FAWN THE PRIZE.

. tONNlA LlONS.
Undoubtedly the grizzly bear is grass
feeder. Although his main source OF
food is roots, herbs, acorns and such nuts
as are to be met with in the countries
through which he ranges, he neverthe-
less greedily devours the carcasses of any
dead animals that fall in his way. No
doubt the so-called ''monarch of the
Sierras" is often very meat-hungry. By
stratagem he may sometimes capture
small animals, but he is too slow and
clumsy to overtake deer, elk or antelope,
unless he shall happen to come upon
these animals when they are badly
wounded. Mountain men have often
wondered how the grizzly bear manages
to subsist at that season of the year when
there are no berries, and but few pine or
other nuts to be found That the ''mon-
arch" is not above highway, or rather,
high Sierra robbery, will be seen by what
is recorded of him in the following
sketch:
. III October last, in company with q
West Virginian named Richards, went
up into the high Sierras for two weeks
hunt. We went to hunt deer, but were
well prepared to encounter grizzly bear
or anything else shootable that might
come in our way. We had with us
a mule on which to pack our blankets,
provisions and camp utensils, which latter
Richards, for some reason unknown to
mee, always called the ''herring tiXin's. :"
We led a regular camp life. which was a
reminder of our old prospecting days.
Richards declared that this was almost
good enough without hunting, but COM
bined with huntingit was the next thing to
being in heaven. As Richards can play on
no instrument except the jewsharp,he was
probably much more at home up in the
mountains than he will be when he
pitches his tent in the New Jerusalem.
After spending a few days in the
neighborhood of Hope Valley, we struck
in West of Lake Tahoe, among the trib
utaries of the American river. This is a
region justly celebrated among hunters.
Along the creeks, about the springs, and
in the great dark canons, are to be found
deer, grizzly and cinnamon bears, Cali
fornia. lions, lynxes, and many smaller
animals.
& The day after VIC made camp in the
new place Richards was unable to 60 out
with me, he having sprained his ankle
the evening before in leaping across a
small stream, therefore struck out alone.
I travelled for nearly three hours with
out seeing any game larger than grouse
or woodchuck, when came to u large
and deep canon that led down toward the
American river Along this canon were
many lateral ravines and gulches, bor-
dering which were numerous small steep
valleys. In one of these dingles pres
emily saw among some low bushes 4 herd
of four or five deer, all quietly feeding.
BY descending the slope of the mountain
few rods to line or ledge of rocks
that projected from the side of the canon
I saw that could get as near to the bend
as I cared to be--evcn ncarer-for /
would not again come out in sight of the
deer until at the edge Of the vale in
which they were feeding.
Moving cautiously along the edge OF
the ledge of rocks. which formed Il sort
of terrace on the side of the cannon, and
carefully avoiding the starting of lose
stones down the precipitous slope. | at
last reached the bank of the littl(
ravine on which was situated, some
thirty feet below me, the dell wherein
were the deer. I not only had the shelter
of the ledge of rock several feet IL
heighth, but also that of several small
trees that stood on the bank of tht
ravine and grew out from among tho
lower rocks.
With my Winchester in my hand,
pcered around the corner ofmy shcltcrns
rock and saw the deer still feeding. an(
only about fifty yards away. Among
them was a noble buck. His antler
spread like the branches of an aged &C
dar. He stood facing me. could SCI
every wink of his eyes. | raised N.
rife, aimed at the centre Of his forehead
and was just pressing my finger to tn
trigger when he suddenly wheeled about
gave a snort and bounded away, FOLLOWED
by all the others of the herd.
Before I had time to even conlcctur
what had frightened the animals--indee'
simultaneously with their first bounds
large California lion dartcd from
clump of bushes, lcaped upon the necl
of fawn that was in the rear Of tn
herd and dragged it to the ground. Tn
fawn gave one or two pitcons bseats
when the teeth of the lion rent its jVgl
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