The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-11-29
HIS FIRST BEAR.
A Tcndcrfoot Lays Out Isruln by Chance,
but Runs Ia Mile with Fright

A Tcnderfoot Lays Out Isruln by Chance,
but Runs ii Nile with Fright.
One morning, after driving over rough,
hllly roads and smooth bottom for several
days started, with rather aarpy looking
fellow, for drive to look up some lund out
near the banks of the Mississippi river.
The irrepressible combination of loafer and
adviser Mt the frontier hotel had volunteered
the information that wolves had been seen in
that neighborhood, and seeing in this a DOS.
sible chance to cover myself with glory,
borrowed the landlords old shotgun, loatlcd
both barrels with go,Al charges of powder
and three sln.ss each, and away we Went My
comM'liion didn't seen 10 enthuSe much over
the spprtive turn our trip had tnkcn. he even
seemed to doubt tllerrnprcty Of monkeyinc
with Il gum az he expressed it, but set him
down for II chicken hearted fellow, and
rather pltie' him for not feeling that thrill
Of pleasure nt 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 sklrted its banks, but no wolves had
thus lar disturbed our peaceful meditations.
and was beginning to feel that the wretch
at the hotel had been playing me for ten
derfoot. Suddenly huge black bear walked
out Of the bushes and claimed our attention.
Now had always maintained that was
naturally a very brave man; of course, had
never had any dealings with this class of AMI
mals, but my vivid imagination had many
times pictured just such crisis us this, and
my courage had always Gn my mind, of
course> risen subllnely to the occasion. Nv
driver trembled like leaf in cyclone, aud
didn't have the backbone of IN office towel
left i'll his frame, while I, true to my imngi-
nation, felt brave enough to fight dozen
bears single handed. I 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.
L have never been able to satisfactorily ex-
plain just what caused such metamorphosis
in the aspect of things, but somehow the in
stant found myself on the same footing with
the beast began to feel lonesome. l began
to appreciate tho company of even scared
man and team Of horses. My chest didn't
swell ns much, and the air seemed to tbichen;
something seemed stuck i'll my throat that
persisted in dstractng my attention from
the pressing business of the moment, when,
oh, horrorsl the bear gave yell, tho man
howled, and away went tho horsesl
1t is surprising how lost confidence In that
old gun; and us it was really the only obstacle
between the bear and his breakfast this had
very depressing effect on my nervous svs-
TEN. But tho bear was upon me; had 10
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
just sense enough left to know that this was
ny Y lacf chm h,,t 1T,,1 cn1
so vital to my best interests had become
myth. simply pulled the trigger, and the
other three slugs started in the direction Of
the enemy. The enraged beast dropped to
four footed business and started for me; one
short gaze at his glistening teeth, red mouth
and big corporosity numbering toward me
was enough. Thoroughly denoralized,
dropped my gun, md looking neither to the
right hand nor to the left, wildly fed.
| could feel the hot breath OF MY vilainous
pursuer on my oscilating calves, and he
seemed TO drop his ponderous feet into the
very tracks had just left not three feet be-
hind. strained every nerve and muscle to
increase my speed, but could not gain an inch
on the fearful tramping behind me- Soon
this pace beg;in to tell on me; it also told on
the bear, The way my labored breathing
was echoed back by the hot putfs of the beast
at my heels was paralyzing, ns well as re-
markabr. As the various parts Of my anat-
omy presented themselves before my harassed
mental vision as candidates for bear delica-
cics each seemed more precious than the rest,
and never before realized what Il physical
treasure was Then l thought of my life
insurance; wondered il policies held good
where the deceased was used to decorate the
interior of Il bear.
The faint hope That his bearship would be
consilerae enough to leave the buttons out
side for purposes Of Identification was COM
purntively cheering reflection so melancholy
had become.
Finally the fact was forced upon me thatI
could not keep up this terrible pace much
longer, was lost physically, at least, and
now tried to think Of that mode of exit
from the scene that would be least shocking
to my overserstive nerves, us we'll as salts
factory to the bear. If I turned and offered
to fight single handed, I feared the bear
might try to hug me, and as believe in sin
cerity in all things could not conscientiously
enjoy this mark of affection under tho cir
cumstnnceS.
finally decided that my feet woulH be the
least Objectionable pnrt to present by way of
Introduction Since this country was annex
ed to Chicago, have not regarded them in
the same light rs of old. So, dripping with
lerspiralion, hnrassel by a thousand un-
named fears, us wrctched II bundle OF hui
innnity us ever was offered for sacrifice,
threw myself on my back, stuck my feet into
the air, closed my eyes md awaited my early
dissolution waited and waited in vain
Ind been running against time. The bear
lny dead just about L mile behind, not ten
rods from where had Slot him. Cincinnati
Enquirer.
American Credit Abroad.