Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-20
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4 Teuderfoot Lays Ous oV"'" "
but tsuns = Mile With Fright.
One morning, after driving over rough,
,illv roads and smooth, bcttom for several
laws. | startsf, with rather sappy looking
elbow. for drive TO look up some land ont
,ear the banL, of the Mississippi river ;.
The irrepressible combination Of loafer and
,dviser at the frontier hotel had volunteered
~ information that wolves had been seen In
mat neiphborhood, and seeing In this pos
lille chance to cover myself with glory,
narrowed the landlords old shotgun, loaded
moth barrels with good charges OF powder
and three slugs each, and away we went. MY
companion didn't seem to enthuse much over
the srortive turn our trip had taken, be even
.eemed to doubt the propriety Of monkeying
with a gun" as he expressed 1t, but set him
down for a chicken hearted fellow, and
Gather p,tiet him for not feeling that thrill
of Measure at the prospect Of dangerous and
exciting sport which animated me.
A couple of hours drive brought US near
our destination, and the river stretched its
length before us; stunted woods and under
brush skirted its banks, but no wolves had
thus far disturbed our peaceful meditations,
and was beginning to feel that the wretch
At the hotel had been playing me for ten
derfoot. Suddenly a huge black bear walked
ont of the bushes and claimed our attention.
Now had always maintained that was
naturally very brave man; OF course, had
never had any dealings with this class OF ami
mails, but my vivid imagination had many
times pictured Just such crisis as this, and
nv courage had always fn my mind, Of
course, risen sublimely to the occasion My
driver trembled like leaf in cyclone, and
didn't have the backbone of an office towel
left in his frame, while l, true to my imagi
nation, felt brave enough to fight dozen
bears single handed. stood up in the buggy
and when saw the brute making for US with
no uncertain tread could fairly feel the
courage swelling within me. l scornfully
ordered the driver to hold the horses and
sprang lightly to the ground.
have never been able to satisfactorily ex-
plain Just what caused such a metamorphoss
in the aspect Of things, but somehow the in
slant found myself on the same footing with
the beast began to feel lonesome. l began
to appreciate the company Of even q scared
man and team Of horses My chest didn't
swell as much, and the air seemed to thicken
something seemed stuck in my throat that
persisted in distracting my attention from
the pressing business of the moment, when,
,, oh, horrorsl the bear gave q yell, the man
howled, and away went the horsesl
1t is surprising how lost confidence In that
old gun; and as it was really the only obstacle
between the bear and his breakfast. this had
a very depressing effect on my nervous svs
TEN. But the bear was upon me; / had nc
time to entertain melancholy reflections.
pointed the gun in the direction Of his glover.
ing muzzle and fired. Instantly he arose on
his hind quarters with cry Of pain. had
lust sense enough left to know that this wa.
my last chance, but the cool, calm confidence
30 vital to my best interests had become 6
myth. simply pulled the trigger, and thu
ether three slugs started in the direction Of
the enemy. The enraged beast dropped Il
four footed business and started for me; ont
short gaze at his glistening teeth, red mouth
! and big corporosity numbering toward m,
was enough. Thoroughly demoralized,
dropped my gun, and, looking neither to tn,
right hand nor to the left, l wildly fed.
could feel the hot breath of my villainou
pursuer on my oscillating calves, and h,
seemed to drop his ponderous feet into tn
very tracks had just left not three feet be
hind | strained every nerve and muscle t,
increase my speed, but could not gain an incl
on the fearful tramping behind me. Sool
this pace began to tell on me; it also told OF
the bear The way my labored breathin,
was echoed back by the hot puffs of the beas
at my heels was paralyzing, as well as re
markab,e. As the various parts of my anat
omy presented themselves before my harasse,
mental vision as candidates for bear delica
cies, each seemed more precious than the rest
I A.e. t.. 49,
treasure was Then l thought of my lif
insurance; wondered if policies held goo
where the deceased was used to decorate tn
interior Of bear.
The faint hope that his bearship would b
considerable enough to leave the buttons out
side for purposes Of Identification was a CON
paratvely cheering reflection, so melanchol
had become.
Finally the fact was forced upon me that
could not keep up this terrible pace muc
longer; was lost physically, at least, an
now tried to think of that mode of ex
from the scene that would be least shockin
to my Oversensitive nerves, as well as sati
factory to the bear. If turned and offere
to fight single handed, feared the bea
might try to hug me, and as believe in sir
certify in all things could not conscientious
enjoy this mark of affection under the ci,
cumstances.
finally decided that my feet would be til
least Objectionable part to present by way {
introduction. Since this country was anne,
ed to Chicago, | have not regarded them
the same light as Of old. So, dripping wit
perspiration, harassed by thousand IL,
named fears, as wretched bundle of b,
mainly as ever was offered for sacrifice.
threw myself on my back, stuck my feet int
the air, closed my eyes and awaited my earl
dissolution. waited and waited in vain.
had been running against time, The bes
lay dead just about a mile behind, not te
rods from where had shot hin.-Cincinna
Enourar