The state herald., 1890-06-13
GRIZZLY AND slsoAs FIGHT.
II tAA Hattie ". tins Death; AID Thsrs
Waa Nd sHrvlt6r:

Inc following story was told US by
stalwart Indian. who. having been
among the French half-breeds a good
deal. had received from them the French
name Of Baptistc. He told US the story
as wo were huddled round campfire
In the dense forest OH the eastern side
of Lake Winnipeg, from which we
and our dogs had been driver by
bitter. binding, blizzard storm. He
said:
''One summer, long ago, was with
largo party Of Indians. We were
making n long journey over the rolling
prairies, from one place to another
That We might have plenty Of meat to
eat. two of us were appointed to keer
about two days journey ahead OF the
company to hunt and 10 kill all the
game We could.
Tho reason why we kept sd fat
npart WIS because we Ind dogs and
babies md women. Id Dur party; lind
you know they will I'LL mako much
noise, sd they would scare the animals
fnr away.
well, wo two hunter, kept well
ahead. Some days we had good luck
aud killed great deal. and then other
days we did not kill much. What we
got we cached, SO that tho party. could
easily find 1t by the sign we gave
them whom they came along. We al.
ways put 1t near tho trail for them.
Then we would push ON. looking fol-
more.
I'm the rolling prairics tho hills arc
like the great waves Of tho sea, only
some Of the hills are about mile apart
with tho valleys, between, When we
were coming ID thu top OF 6ne u these
swells, or hills. We would creep up very
carefully in the long grass and look
over down in the valley on tho other
side. Sometimes we could see game to
shoot and often there was nothing Mt
all. When there was no sign of any
thing worth stopping to shoot, as wo
were after big game having many
mouths to fecdi We wonld hlirfy across
W Tic next hilltop and carefully look
over into tn: ava. vai,oy. :.
One day rs we had passed several
valleys and had seen nothing that was
worth our stopping to shoot, we came
to the top of n pretty large hill. and
sight that we shall never forget,
Right down before ,is, within gum
shot, was a very large grizzly bear and
two big buffalo bulls. WEI for ,is thu
wind Was blowing from them to us.
They were very angry-looking and were
preparing for big fight. The buIraloes
seemed TO know that tho bear was an
ugly customer, and he looked as II no
did moi know how to manage tho twa
OF them ut uncs,
Nor quite while they kept up what
you might call n pretencc Of battle.
The bulls would pdw tie grouhd and
keep ZIP a constant roaring. This only
made tht bear Tho, pore apgty, Snd II
there hid only been one he would soon
have got his big claws upon him. but
there being two made him cautious.
"Aftcr awhile both of the bu Is sud-
denly lowered their heads and together
they charged the bear, As they rushed
ut him he quickly arose up on his
hatnches, and. rs they closed in upon
him. he seized one of them by the head
and neck, and. with sudden jerk. so
quickly broke his neck that he fell down
us dead as stone.
| The older buffalo. which had
charged at the same time. gave tho
bear fearful thrust with his sharp
hdrns, one.af which pierced him be,
tween his ribs, causing an ugly wound
from which the blood soon began to
dow. The bear. having killed the other
buifalo,tried TO seize hold of this one al
so.but he, having given the bear the ug-
y wound. quickly sprung back out of his
reach. lie ran of for little distance.
but, as the bear did not follow him, he
came back again. There they stood
looking at each other. both very angry,
but both very cautious. As they kept
moving round II seemed 10 ,is Us though
the buffalo had SO come round on tho
windward side OF the bear that he caught
the scent of the blood from the wound.
The smell OF blood always exciles to
fury these animals. aud so. lowering
his head. he furiously charged at his
wounded. yet still savage, enemy.
TO receive him. and, selzing him MS he
did the other. killed him on the spot
"Wc saw him 70 from pnc buHalo 10
another and smell them botli. but he
did not offer to tear or cat either. We
could see that he was very badly
wounded from the way he kept twitch-
Ing his side, from which the blood
kept running. 1t was an ugly wound
and he was very sick bear. and SO
ms he looked so cross we were not In
hurry TO let him know any thing about
us.
Imagine, IL You can" said Dap.
tistc, while his eyes flashed at the
recollection Of this royal battle, chow
excited we were MS we lay there IN
the long grass and watched this grea,
fight.
Then we thought; Now II Nc can
only kill that wounded bear we will
have plenty Of meat for the whole camp
Tor good while. But. although we
had our guns. we were none too anx.
ious TO begin the battle with such
bear MS that one; so we crouchcd low
and watched him. 1t was very fortu-
nate that the wind. which WAS quite
breeze. blew MS II did. lie never seem.
cd TO suspect that other foes were near.
AFTER while he went OF little
distance aud lay down In the long
grass. which rose mp so high around
him that we could not sec him. We
waited long for him TO get up. but ms
he did not. and We could not stay there
NIL day we prepared for big iigh,
with him. We put our knives where
we could instantly draw them. mud
carefully examined our guns to SEQ thai
they were all right. Then We began
to crawl down carefully through the
grass toward him.
My! how our hearts did bcnti and
how every second we expected hc would
hear us, and the fight would begin for
life or death.
We got very close to him. although
not near enough TO sec him. Then. as
We heard no sound, we made u little
noise 10 attract his attention. And
then we wanted him TO get up. 80 We
could have a better chance to shoot
him. but he did not stir. So. with
our fingers on the triggers Of our guns.
VIZ called out; Mr.. Bear. here AFRO cu-
T.. o.