The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-24
THREE BAR STORIES.
Malheur (0re.J Correspondence Turf, Field
and Farm.

stopped some weeks ago Tor the night
at the Antelope Springs TaveTn-half
hotel and half stable, built of pine logs,
some of which are two feet in thickness
lonely place under the pines. where |
could hardly hope for any but lonesome
night of il. The place was hotel some
twenty years ago, but has been deserted
since then.
was glad TO find crowd of hunters,
trappers, miners and travellers collected
there. driven in like myself by the snow
storm which had been raging all day on
the mountain toll road. After a good
supper, which included elk steak, We
gathered around blazing fire of dry pine
wood on the old hearth.
1--WE were hunting black-tail deer on
the main range of the Rocky Mountains,
near the headwaters of the Little Black
foot River, in Montana" ventured slim
young man, Heath and |. Heath was
young fellow from Boston, and Beacon
street maybe at that He had joined the
United States army. He had been in the
territory year or so, had served under
General Terry against the Sioux, and had
seen some service, too, was at the Little
Big Horn Just after the Custer massacre.
Becoming tired of life in barracks, he
got out of the army by the assistance of
friends at home, among them General B.,
under the plea that he was not of age
when he enlisted
"Well, we had been tracking band of
deer until we were just about played out,
when we saw them away up on the side
of the mountain. II was about three
hours till shutdown.
I'VE tied old Prince, Heath's dog. TO a
little bush with silk handkerchief, in.
tending to leave him there while we slip
ped on the deer. The dog would break
sometimes and spoil shot.
Il was ahead of Heath about hun
bred yards with my Winchester on my
shoulder-had some six or eight loads in
the chamber She was what is called an
Express rife, 50 caliber and shoots 100
grains of powder When that gun spoke
something was liable to get hurt. Heath's
was Remington, a single>shot rifle, you
know, but for one shot | hardly think
there's a better.
IL had always been anxious to run
across grizzly, and we both had about
made up our minds that whenever we
should come up with a bear on our hunts
we should try him whirl. | am no
slouch of IA shot, if | do say it myself, and
Heath was as quick as a rabbit and as
steady as bridge,as he would say
We'll, old Prince began Juggling at the
handkerchief and broke loose He
came running up to Heath as if brighten
ed. | looked back, and just where Il
little while before we had been resting
dead run, one following the Other. and
both right ON our trail. They were sill
yer tips, and were coming about as fast
as an average coyote can run, and getting
over the rough ground as nimbly as
cats
"LOok out Health Ih0lered. there
something after usp
But he had already seen them ana
they saw him, for the leader turned aside
and they both passed in about fifty yards
of him. Isaw him raise his rifle, then
he lowered it and looked around, and be
gan backing toward tree that stood not
far away from him. He saw that the tree
was handy, and he slipped hisihsnd in his
pocket for more cartridges, so as to have
them ready.
Those bears looked to be about the
size of a sack of wool, such as YOU see in
this country, and about that shape.
wasn't hungry for bear meat just about
that time, gentlemen.
".Give il to EN- Health I cried, for |
thought he was not going 10 shoot. In
fact | didn't have time TO think mucb
about il or would not have said that
II was all done as Quick as you can hat
your eve. ANYWAY.
"'Whanpr went his Remington.
".Stay with me Louis' he shonted
They are on the fightr
"He shot at the bear in advance, and
hit il in the rear somewhere. II stopped
turned round stood IN on its hind feet
and showed its teeth II worked its
laws as if il was chewing its cud. Then
il roared or crowled or howled-wbat
ever Won NAV call it-twice and Won
could have heard it amile. Never heard
such voice anywhere else.
II ran out TO place where I could get
a fair sweep at them when they came
back toward Heath. Before he could
load and shoot again the bear came
numbering along by the other one. and
they both ran into the bush together.
I'VE were afraid to follow them into
the willows, and SO we saw nothing more
of them"
Yes, began trapper. as he threw a
log on the fire and then stood with his
hands behind him in the full glare of the
heat-the hands held in that position,
perhaps, to warn him when the heat got
too great for the safety of his buckskin
overalls, He wore gum boots lalso per-
vious to fire., buckskin schaps as afore,
said, and heavy flannel shirt, so heavy
in fact that he saved the expense of vest
and coat. Wherever he went there was
n atroon adnr Of baayor ,,,ualy xvbioh IN