The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-06
A BRAVE HUNTER.
He Goes After Bear, and Sure Enough,
He Finds One.


He Finds One.
Il tell you, all l want now is to meet
bear, or a lion, or a panther, or some
thing!" cried ten-ycar-old Charlie, as
he proudly showed his oak bow and
gaily painted arrows, which Peter
Semps, an Indian boy, had given him.
"Wouldn't our old Billy sheep do as
well?" laughed papa.
BILLY Sheep answered Charlie, al
most ready to cry. Just wait and
you'll see, papa! I'm going hunting"
Now papa had planted large field of
fodder-coln, which grew so tall that a
man on horseback could barely see over
the tops in places. Here was just the
place for bear-hunt-so our Charlie
thought.
He marched boldly down the hill, and
entered the corn-fcld, while papa
watched him with twinkling eyes. Per-
hapS he was thinking of the time when
he, too, owned a bow and arrow.
"Ue will gctlost = said mamma, anX-
iouXly. Mammals are always anxious
about ten-year-old boys, you know.
"No, no - laughed papa. Let him
GO He will have a good time, and
nothing can hurt him there. Let him
90; it is a real forest to him. I'll send
Brave by and by. He can fetch him out
if he is lost"
But papa didn't know what there was
hidden in that corn-fcld he didn't
even dream the truth, or else Charlie
wouldn't have gone there alone, you
may be sure.
For a time Charlie went on gaily
among the long, shady rows. 1t was
quite like q forest. Frisly squirrels
chartered, and ran away before him;
tiny mice peered at him with bright,
questioning eyes, and once he started
flock of cartridges, which were looking
for their supper; but such game was
too small for our young hunter. He
was after q bear-a3ad he Joa31d ii!
Over toward the real woods, where the
sweetcorn was planted, and the rows
were thinner, and not as tall, he saw a
great black bear, sitting upright upon
| his launches, and stripping the ears of
tender corn. What a splendid chance!
Charlie trembled with excitement, and
perhaps he was little, only little,
frightened. He dropped upon one
| knee, as he had seen Pete do, fitted his
prettiest arrow and twanged the bow.
"Ouf! ouf!' said the bear, as the ar
row whizzed by him, just touching the
tip of one round ear.
Then he spied Charlie, who was just
fitting another arrow with eager,
trembling hands. He didn't stop to
pick out the prettiest one this time.
This one struck him plump on the nose,
and, dropping upon his forefcet, he
shuflled toward Charlie.
The brave hunter became the hunted
That was more than he had bargained
for, and, throwing down his bow and
arrows, he gave a screech, and darted
ahead, anywhere, with that great black
blear close behind him!
After Charlie left, papa sat on the
verandah, and smiled as he read Then
q man came huIriedly up the walk.
"Scen any thing of bear round
here?" he said. Il belong to Locks
circus, and our best-performing bear
got loose last night. We've tracked
him as far as your corn-feld-"
"Our corn-feld!' gasped mamma.
| ''And Charlie
Pooh! The animal is tame, and won't
| hurt him." said papa; but his face was
very pale, as he snatched up his hat
and whistled for Brave, then led the way
toward the corn-feld.
Seek him, Brave! Seek him, good
dog" he said, when they reached the
spot where Charlie had entered the
| corn.
Away went the dog, and away went
papa, and the circus man after him.
They heard Charlie scream, saw him
dashing through the corn, and the next
instant the great brute lunged forward,
and caught the little hunter in his strong
paws.
don't ye be a mite Uneasy, sir" said
the circus man. That's only one Of
his tricks. Stand back; I'll soon have
him safe. Down, Brutus! down, sir!'
and the bear instantly obeyed.
SO Charlie had his bear-hunt rather
too much of it; but | shall always be
thankful that that circus man was so
near.-E, H. StratLoR, IN Youths Com
pa3i0W.