Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-10-05

pelieVe wuz soon up onto the ton q,
the ledge. When got my gun sbo,
the snake, and there's his skim
The next day was rainy, aud m
most told me the full particulars ~
nov he Killed two bears last snrin,,
III appears that the bears were kilIe1
toward the Inter part OF February AMI
In rather singular manner. He baa
been out nearly all day tranpino in
the wet snow, which was very heavy
there, but had at this time na,tl,
melted, and he had seen no trace ~
large game" Az it began TO rain
about three o'clock in the afternoon ha
determined TO find as sheltered a ro,,,
as possible, eat his lunch, and then
make his way home. Just as he
hhd arrived at this conclnsio,,
ne came upon a large, hollow
sycamore log, or, rather, the create,
part OF trunk, lying PROSTATE acroa.
a little piece of level ground bv the
side OF the creek, the waters of which
had evidently undermined its root
years before. He looked the surro,,d
ings over and then unrolled his l,ncb
c:awled into the ample opening at the
upper or little end Of the trunk. from
which the branches had been torn
away no doubt when the tree crashed
down and further Iptted by years OF
ram and sun. Lying prone upon the
bottom OF the big wooden tube, his
rifle by his side, he not only enioved
the simple corn bread and ham with
which his better half had provided
MN, but got very acceptable rest.
low long he had lain there when he
was aroused he says he doesn't exact. |
ly know. He thinks that on his tramp. |
the hearty food, and the lullinp pate,
OF the rain upon his shelter made him
sleepy, and he may have dozed a little |
Suddenly he felt the hollow old she'll
vlbrate, heard q mufIied, scrapino !
shutting sound, and raising his head
quickly from where it had rested upon
MS folded arms he saw the aperature al
the further end of the log suddenly
closed There was a subdued smiling
and then loud snort. He knew in an
instant that it was nothing less than
bear, which had come in at what miph,
be called the front entrance of his
place of refuge, and he judged it to be
bear of very good size. The bear.
too, was evidently aware that the syca-
more had some other tenant and re-
manned ominously still Slowly bring.
ing his gun from alongside his body
to his shoulder he took careful aim bv
the faint streak of light that showed
between the bears body and that con-
cave surface OF the tree trunk and
fired. There was a violent motion that
shook the old sycamore from end to
end. loud ''woof, woof," and then all
was still.
The hunter, happy over his unex-
pected good luck, started to back
from his end Of the log with an idea of
going around and drawing his victims
from the other end, but Just as
he made the first movement toward do
ing so he heard a commotion behind
him. Turning his head as far as pos
sible to one side he looked back and
his blood almost froze at seeing an
other bear within a yard of the circu-
lar opening, Acting upon the impulse ,
ne crept two or three feet further into !
.he log.
The bear came to the opening and
paused. The hunters mind was now
l swiftly-turning kaleidoscope of
thoughts. His gun was not loaded,
md in his cramped and narrow quar-
ers he could not run charge home
10 emerge feet foremost under the
'ery nose of large bear was suicidal.
t the bear would only turn away-but
10; it was already pushing its way into ,
he tunnel, which now became almost
otally dark. Could the now desperate
nan creep forward, push the presuma-
,ly dead bear from the other end of the &
og, and so make his escape? Doubt !
III. Still he crept forward. slowly, I
endeavoring, though vainly, .
II the meantime to load his rifle. He q
.ould hear the bear behind him labori- ]
'usly squeezing its huge body into the /
ylinder, could hear the rafting and f
caring of its claws upon the half a
otted wood, and could almost feel its a
breath. b
Il felt almost rs unpleasant" he b
aid, las did when was hangin' by l
hat durn snakes tail over the ninety h
hree foot ledge" a
Suddenly the strained nerves give a o
'reat throb. In drawing the knife his u
and happened to strike the prison "
,all almost above his head. 1t sounds ;
him He thrusts his knife into "
through 1.-THE soft rotted wood comes Il
own in fragments. and dust in his :"
ice and eyes There is hope. The p
ear is slowly but surely forcing its !,
-ay toward him. How eagerly he :,
trusts his knife and twists it in the ~
wounds in the sycamore :!
nell. He strikes upward with his :,
Ienched fists and tears furiously with =
is fingers until they bleed. A larts
iece comes rafting down. He tears =
ounds, cuts, slashes more vigorously :.
IAN ever Yes, it is large enough! :,
e draws himself up and energies -
ON what threatened to be his tomb, ci
lie place of a horrible and revolving ST
oath. and is safe. c;
And now he began reloading his p