Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-23

WHICH Ht HIOSt nIN tulntu uAOuAh W
reach his rifle to find himself face to face
with a powerful black bear whose body
filled the narrow path. The bear had pick
ed up Daviss rifle and was cutting it
around in the dirt in a careless manner,
when his attention wassttracted to Davis
by his sudden uprising from the spring.
He reared himself on his hind legs and
tapping bis red jaws with his tongue,
held out his black arms invitingly to-
ward Davis, who responded to the I'M
pleasant invitation by drawing n small
pocket pistol that he carried, and taking
as deliberate aim as possible under the
circumstances, firing shot into the
bear mouth.
A RACE FOR LIFE.
The bear seemed surprised for an in
slant at Daviss audacity, and then made
lunge for him. Davis retreated pre-
cipitately, and with "a wild hope of MAIN
ing or disabling the bear in some
manner fired the five remaining balls IN
his pistol at him in rapid success
sion, but there was no evidence that
the bullets did any more than stir the
bear up to frenzy and the next minute
the hstless merchant was flying down
the mountain path with the bear in hot
pursuit. 1t was about an even race for
The first hall mile at that distance
Davis's wind began TO play out and the
bear was slowly closing the gap between
them.
Davis saw that his ability as runner
would never save him from the bear and
he began to look for other means OF
escape. A few rods ahead Of him near
the path stood a redwood-tree. The
lowest branches were several feet above
his reach. but he concluded that he had
better try and reach them while he had
strength left to draw himself up. The
bear was rapidly closing in on him. He
could hear the frenzied beast rant
rs he came Looping down the path. The
tree was reached at last, and with wildly
beating heart Davis threw his arms
around the trunk and started to pull
himself up to the branches above his
head. He was too late. just as he
thought he WAS beyond the reach of the
bear he felt the animals claws In the
cali of his leg, and the next moment he
was dragged TO the ground.
IN THE BEARS EMBRACE.
Though painfully wounded by the
bears claws Davis retained his presence
Of mind, and as he fell drew a long
hunting-knife that he carried in his belt.
The bear caught Davis between his fore
legs with the evident intention of mash
ing his bones so that he could swallow
him easier, but the gritty merchant
brought his knife into play and sent
il hilt-deep into the animals side.
The pain caused the bear to
loosen his legs for an instant, and
quickly dropping out from between
them Davis started down the path at a
rate of speed born only OF fear. In
moment the bear was after him, roaring
with pain. A short distance down the
path Davis spied an old live-osk tree
under which was large rock. From
the top Of this rock the lower branches of
the tree were within easy reach, and for
this he made like deer. He reached
il, and swung himself up into the
branches Just ahead of the bears nose
Bruin evidently had 10 idea Of
the chase, but squatted
down on the rock and sharply
eyed the man in the branches above him.
Dayis's leg was bleeding badly. and with
his handkerchief and shreds torn from
the lining of his coat he bsndaged the
wound and made himself as comfortable
as possible.
he was safe SO far as the bear was con-
cerned. but the prospect OF sitting in the
top OF tree with nothing to eat or drink
until the bear below should choose to
raise the seige was anything but plea
SAINT. But there was no alternative, for
his black-coated jailer never for a mo-
ment took his eyes OIL him.
The camp was two miles away, and
Davis knew that it would be impossible
for him to make his voice heard that dis
lance but he did not doubt that his
would sooner or later won
der at his absence and institute q search
for him; consequently the ultimate result
of his encounter with the bear must, it
seemed to him, necessarily end In his
favor.
ANEsT OF BIAcKsNAKEs.
The tree in which he had taken refuge
was an old oak that showed signs of age
in many places. Many Of its limbs had
decayed and the weather had eaten many
places into its trunk. A short distance
above Dayis's head was the hollow stump
Of limb that projected out from the
main trunk OF the tree about two feet.
To this stump Dayis's attention was at
iraeted by gray squirrel that ran up the
tree and disappeared in the hole in tho
stump Davis came TO the conclusion that
there was nest of squirrels in the limb
and determinedto while away the time in
trying 10 secure one or more of them.
Tearing more Of the Inning from his coat
be carefully bandsged his right hand 10
prevent has being bisten by the squirrels
and started TO invade their nest By
grasping limb with his left hand and
on protruding knot below tho
hollow stump he vss able 70 reach