The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-12-02

lacerated as now. The sunshine sud.
denly lost it's brightness. the fresh,
fragrant stiffness was no longer q de-
light, and desperate thoughts flashed
through my brain of putting an end
to my ,wretched existence.
At last l determined that instead Of
returning home to brood over my sor-
row, would strike off by myself into
the woods, and redeem my reputation
by taking home at night some trophy
of my skill.
The soothing sunshine and delicious
air by degrees restored my equanimity,
and hope was high in my bosom. l
scanned all the ravines closely, and
looked wisely on the ground for tracks
of beasts. l rode long and far, and
when the sun was high threw myself
beside a little spring that bubbled
from the rocks, and ate my luncheon,
allowing my horse to Craze near me.
On my right was small patch OF
green heritage, across which the tall
pines cast a sombre shadow. There
was not a sound except that Of the
horse feeding: was too high for birds;
they were below IN the valleys, though
now and then q vulture sailed majesti-
cally around some distant peak. The
loneliness and silence of th6 place be:
gan to be Oppressive:
Suddenly there was q rustic in the
tall grass under the pines. Looking
up 1 saw the head of a deer. l seized
my rifle, and, leveling it, fired with a
steady hand. A deafening report
crashed through the stiffness, and
there escaped into the air q white
deer! l sprang to the place. In the
bloodstained grass lay the noble an
imal. struggling with death.
Ifelt a thrill ofseperstitious horror;
something as an CID Egyptian must
have felt had no killed unwittingly the
sacred ibis, or the Ancient Mariner
when he slew the albatross. 1 tried
to staunch the blood, but the muir
derous ball had done its work too
we'll. Hardly knowing what I did,
took the head OF the dying creature
into my lap. In the large soft eyes
were reflected the rocks and the sway
ngpines. As the breath grew fainter the
head turned with convulsive move.
ment, and the fast glazing eyes looked
into mine with a gaze so human in its in.
telligenc e that was almost crazed with
grief and terror. hurried from the
spot, only TO find that my horse, prob
ably frightened by the rihe-shot had
disappeared. l was alone and miles
from hcme.
discovered, too, that I 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 90 back on foot the way I had
come as nearly as could remember
it. When l reached a point high
enough to command view l did not
feel treasured, 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 a living thing in sight but a buz.
card circling about a far-off peak.
At last set off in a 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 a bear. had my rifle and three
dozen cartridges in my belt, but Uncle
John had said: "Give grizzlies wide
BERTH"
What could do if met one?
The way grew more and more in
tricate. Now l had to climb over
powders, and now force my way
through tangled under growth, from,
which l emerged into the shadow o.
pines so gloomy that twilight seemed
suddenly to have fallen.
There was a crashing of bushes, as
OF some heavy body pushing itself
through. I tried to run, but the
roughness of the ground made mt
stumble at every step.
The noise came nearer. Iknew that
it could be nothing but q bear, and
every other anxiety was swallowed w
in present terror. remembered that
grizzlies do not climb unless the tree
is neither too large nor too small
Ten yards to the left stood a. slen.
der tree, with trunk clear for fifteen
feet.
Isprang toward it, and although
had never been able to climb q tree be-
fore, climbed now without moment
of hesitation, and scrambled to seat
among the branches. l shook SO
violently that I had to hold on by
main force to keep from falling. Ihad
been there probably thirty seconds
when there shuffled from the bushes,
with awkward but impressive gait, 8
monstrous grizzly bear.
had dropped my gun in the excite
ment, and even had l kept it should
not have dared to fire. AS the great
beast shambled along l saw that he
was lame. It was old Clubfoot, the
terror and autocrat ofthe mountains
He was headed directly for my tree
My blood curaled and my breath stop
ped. have no distinct recollection
OF the next few seconds. Heapproach.
ed within ten feet of my hiding place
rolling his heavy head from side to
side as if aware of an unseen foe. Then
he passed on and was lost among the
trees.
remained motionless for nearly an
hour fearing to descend. Then crept
noiselessly in the direction whence old
Clubfoot had come. My rifle, which
must have fallen against the PROSTATE
trunk by which found it, was broken
short of at the breech, the bear hav.
ing struck at it with his paw in pass.
ing.
Imagine my surprise when I emerged
from among the trees to find the same
deer. At first l could not believe It,
but there was the spring with the rock
by which l had sat, and the remains
OF my luncheon lay scattered on the
ground. l was tired, as we'll as weak
and nervous, after the fright the bear
had given me. But it was becoming 8
question OF life or death, and l was
L