Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-12
thick hide, while they tugged md jerked

eihCh HUG, Wuilc tney tuHycu anu JefKed
and threw their weight against his clutch
upon the tree. The bears progress was
not only stopped, but his powerful grasp
upon the bark was broken. and he fell
back to the ground Instantly every pair
OF tusks that could find Il place to rip
and tear on The great body of the bean
was Slas!iing furiously. The bear hurled
the swarm of pcccaries right and left with
sweep of his enormous paws, disem-
boweliing two. and throwing them clear
TO the bottom OF tic hill. Another swoop
of his paws sent others OF the drove fly
ing i'll all directions, and the bear made
another dash for the tree. Again i:c was
pulled back, and again he scattered the
percarics and tried to escape up the tree
"Rut all in vain The third time he
was snatchcd To the ground, his coat WAS
red with blood from head 10 tail, and his
thick hide was torn ;lsunder i'll dozen
places, showing great red patches of
iacera;ed flesh, from which the blood
spur,ed in jets, or like water drippin.
IRON the caves during Il heavy storm.
lhc pcccaries threw themselves upon him
wherever there was Il place TO inll;ct Il
wound, until the bear was completely
liiducn by the furious little beasts.
saw the plunging, tearing mass rise up
iour feet from the ground twice after the
bear was pulled down the last time, show.
ing that br,iin was STRUGGLING To cast oil
the savage horde. Then the bcars
struggles were over. For :. minute or
two the drove tore, and crurciicd, and
| tossed about on the spot where Inc bear
had last been thrown, aud | could hcm
The Swapping OF bones and The sic.lening
sound of the flesh as il. was ripped and
chopped 10 pieces by the teeth and tusks
Oh the peccaries. Then the drove wen.
back into the hollow, granting in con-
tented way, and paying 10 attention 10
the live of their number that had died in
the combat. But there was not vcstyv
left Of the immense bear that less than
ten minutes before had doomed up before
inc i'll such enormous proportions.
"Whcn | went back to my companions
| related 10 them The capture and fright
full fate Of the bear, and told them how
nearly the bear had succeeded in escaping
from tie peccaries up the tree.
"'You think he'd have escaped, do
you" said an old plainsman We'll. let
me tell you that if the bear had climbed
clear to the top oI the tree he wouldn't
have escaped. He would only have
gained Il respite. Pcccaries never lei up
on an enemy they have gone out 10 lay
low, as long as that enemy is in sight II
that bear had got up the tree the pccsrics
would would simply have -. down ut The
foot of the tree and waited No matter
how long they might have had To stay
thcrc-a week, month, three months, -
year-tl.rre they would nave stayed until
that bear either came down or fell down,
and they had scattered him to the winds
Peccarics never give up. When they have
set their death watch on Il bear, OF u
hunter, or Il mountain lion. Or whatever
1t may be, tt strong guard is always left
To see that the victim does not escape
While some are on guard others are OFF
feeding, and their rcicfs are regular and
/ constant. If that bear had got into the
tree there would have been no minute Of
, the day or night that he could not have
looked down upon :: group Of pcccaries
sitting around the tr,c, each with his eyes
iiNcd imniovnbly upon him. II the bear
could possibly have fastened himself in
thc tree he might starvc 10 DEATH with
the satisfaction Of Knowing that hi; car
cass would not fall 20 the ground to he
torn into nothing by Ike trelss wrctchcs
below; but rs the bear could have had no
way 10 secure himself fixed tenant in
the tree ii would have been only uucs-
ton OF time when, grown weak from
hunger, he must have lost his grin on
The branches and rewarded the patience
o. the pcccarics by tumbling among
tiem to BIZ supinely annihilatcd, instead
OF getting some little satisfaction, rs he
did, ont of the affair by making Il few Of
his enemies bite the dust"