The state herald., 1890-05-09
generals party there. Acting oh his

generals party there. Acting oh his
information jack met tho party just as
it was going into camp tho evening of
its arrival. After supper the camp
stools were placed about tho fire under
the mountain pines, pipes were lighted
and the conversation gradually merged
into thrilling bear stories that were
told In numbers by the young society
men of the party.
Now bear, during tho first few
moments of his interview with hun
ter, shows some very odd and impress
i've characteristics. These the man
who has read his story or "thrnkcd it
out himself" will always miss in the
telling and these omissions will always
stamp the story teller as fabricator
to the hcarcr who has stood up in front
of wounded bear, his heart in his
mouth and his brain humidly calcula-
ting whether he or the bear will sup
that night.
On this occasion story followed story
till Jacks amazemcnt gave way to
disgust at the nerve of the "tenderfoor
contingent that was springing such
yarns on him. Finally Gen. Sheridan
turned to Jack with, ''Jack, you can
tell n good story when you want to;
give us one now"
"Wcll, general replied the guide,
81 have heard so many of 'em this
evenin' that don't believe know a
single one. Anyway. don't know
any bear stories like those I've heard"
"Come, jack" urged Sheridan, "thc
story, my boy, the story!"
"You're in command, general, and
I suppose I'll have to obey, but !
don't remember many stories just now.
However, last fall found had to go
up to see some prospects at Cook City
on the Clarke's Fork So as my pack
pony wasn't in the herd, just put the
pack-saddle on my ridin' pony and
started afoot, leadin' the pony. We
came past the mammoth hot springs,
crossed the Yellowstone at my bridge
and took the trail up Soda Creek.
Along about -four in the afternoon we
got to Soda Butte Lake. The grass was
good there and the pony made up his
mind it was time to go into camp, SO
he kept pullin' back OH the lariat till
gave in and unpacked him. liz
started to Craze and shouldcred my
rifle and wandered off down towards
the lake thinkin' | might get shot al
a goose or maybe n deer that would
furnish meat for supper and breakfast
My rifle was n single-shot brccch.
loadin' Sharp and mighty good gun.
| trotted along the trail among the
frs on the edge of the lake watchin
the water pretty careful when suddenly
heard an Ugh! ugh!!' right in front
of me. and there, in the trail, moi
thirty feet away, was as big n roach.
back bear as ever saw. lie was sittin
up with his front paws hangin' down
and his red tongue, stained with sar.
vice-berrics, runnin' out in the most cx-
asperatin' way. watched him for q
breath or two and almost made up my
mind that hadn't lost any bear and
wasn't huntin' for any, but he sat SO
still that couldn't resist The tcmpta.
tation. So hauled up the old rifle
and took steady pull on his neck cx-
pactin' 10 break his spinal column.
Well, general, just as pulled the trig.
ger he moved and knew had missed
him. The way broke for big fiji
tree wasn't slow tell you. dropped
the gun as ! grabbed the treo and
wasn't second too soon, for he came
up with rush and snakcd the hcc
of my boot in no time as ! swung my
self into safety.
al got up out of his way and watch.
ed him while he howled and tore the
bark OIL the tree. saw then that III,
bullet had Just scratched tie skin on
the side of his neck. lie would rub II
with his paw, then jump for the tree
and below while he tore the bark of
in chunks. Then he'd go TO the other
side Of the tree and repeat tho perform
ance. Presently lie saw my rifle. lie
picked il up and looked il all over.
Then he fixed his beady little eyes on
me and seemed studyin' somothin'.
Then he cooked the gun, threw it 10
his shoulder and took good aim nj
me before he pulled the trigger.
"Of course the gun snapped, us tho
same shell was in II that had just fired
at him. lie pulled the gun down
again, looked 1t all ovei. then threw
down the lever and breech block.
This threw out the old shell and he
held out his paw TO me for new she'll, $