San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-02
had now time to think, and, as q
might say, "take stock" OF my

position and prospects. On the one side
was chased by bear, a hungry bear,
cross bear, bear disturbed at his
breakfast Of sweet acorns. I had lost
my way. ! had only ducking gun,
which, however formidable to Wild geese,
was mere plaything when brought to
bear upon the thick, tough hide Of an
acorn fatted grizzly, whose gross weight
might be somewhere In the neighborhood
Of nine hundred pounds. As for my
hunting knife, I had left It at home.
What wonder II, as an Irishman might
cay, I wished that had left myself there
before startedi
Against all this had the consolatory
assurance that the grizzly bear never
climbs, which, as the trees were all on
the side of the bear, did not add much
to my sense Of security. But my prin-
cipal hope lay In the fact that I was just
then hidden by the gully, the depth Of
which varied from eight to twelve feet,
with precipitous sides and dry bed,
which probably led down to some neigh
boring stream of water.
"Now," thought I, ~ have only to
crawl along this ditch, reach the stream.
Cross 1t, and bid good-by to grizzly"
Ihad just picked myself up, and was
proceeding to curry out my plan Of es-
cape, when I heard a cracking and
breaking of the underbrush which
fringed the ditch, and by which ! was
partly screened from view. This was
speedily followed by an angry growl, rs
the treacherous earth gave way, and let
Mr.. Bear with no gentle tumble directly
down into the very gully into which ]
had fallen.
Fortunately for me, bruin had not only
greater fall, but tumbled into the ditch
at point somewhat distant from my
hiding place, and the little ferret eyes
did not at once perceive me. An un-
lucky stumble, however, which I owed
to twisted root, betrayed me, and he
turned and gave chase.
They have very expressive phrase in
California when person is desired to
leave suddenly; it consists Of but two
words, "You git" My young reader,
when that bear tumbled into my gully
II got" and when he took up the chase,
I continued ito git" in style which as
tonished even myself.
When first saw him fall, certainly
hoped that he had broken his nose at
least, or even dislocated his great ugly
neck; but that hope vanished in a mo-
ment.
He was evidently not whit the worse
for his somcrsault.
It was no longer n matter Of ceremony.
Isped over the ground like hunted
deer, while my stout friend came lum-
bering and putting ON behind, like
portly old gentleman who fears he may
be too late for the evening train. was
expecting every moment to feel the blow
Of his heavy paw, when, turning an
angle Of the gully, perceived, with no
little dismay, that the ditch in front Of
me was blocked by an immense fallen
tree. The smaller end Of the broken
trunk being toward me, showed an open
ing wide enough to admit my then some.
what more than usually slender form.
There was little time for hesitation.
could hear the bears heavy tramp be-
hind me. A moment more and had
plunged into the opening, and drew my
gun after me, just as my fat friend
rounded the turn Of the "slue" in hot
pursuit. Running blindly on, he ell
deavored to force himself after me, Civ
ing the log shock which made me
tremble for the security of my new tcne-
ment.
One or two furious plunges tended to
convince him that I could enter where
his huge frame could not, for he seemed |
to reflect, and finally introduced a paw,
from whose far reaching grab I retired
into the inner recesses of my chamber.
Finding that his attempts in this way
were equally futile, began to feel lit
tie more at ease, and when bruin again
poked in his great paw, in an inquiring
sort Of way, managed to push dead
duck out to him with the butt of my
gun, by way Of peace offering. was
willing just then to have peace at any
price short of surrender.
But Sir Bear had no thought of such
He tore away, and made
the feathers fly with his cruel teeth and
claws, in a style which gave me pretty
lively notion of what l might expect
were / to trust myself within their
grasp.
/ had begun to think seriously Of CIV
ing my pursuer the benefit of charge
,f duck shot, in the hope Of putting out
,ne or both Of his ugly little eyes and
making him give up the hunt, when, my
,yes becoming accustomed to the dark
hess, discovered a faint indication Of
light behind me.
On working myself round, / saw that
he hollow into which had entered was
livided by narrow, rot eaten wall from
! still larger opening In the body Of the
runk beyond, the portion Of the great
rec in which / had ensconced myself |
,eing In reality only one Of the main {
ranches and lying almost at right 8
.ngles to the parent stem A little lusty /,
licking, with some help from my pocket
,nife, soon enabled me to worm my way .
With difficulty through the opening. Into
his Immediately stuffed my light outer
acket. In order 70 conceal my departure
rom the beast, who was just then too
,usily engaged In tunneling an entrance
nto my hiding place to take notice Of
ny exit.
The creek was below me, and !
ropped into it in q moment. and pushed
unheard to the opposite &
ank: for his excited hearship contin- .
ed still At his. probably unwonted, but :
pursuit of man hunting. at d
hat may Be termed the back door Of
" recent domicile.
IrAs nov comparatively safe, and felt o