Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-04-08

lily could 90 on record AT last as nhflnB
got away from drove OF pursuing
peccaries. But ] found that | didn't
know peccaries yet That mad rush OF
hump-backed demons struck the tree,
and seemed to rise upward like surf
that strikes the base OF rock and
throws its broken column Of foam spite
fully toward the summit OF the obsta-
clio. never could tell just how it was
done. but like flash at least half
dozen OF those merciless beasts were
hanging TO the flanks, the sides. and
the back OF the bear, their tusks sunk
deep In his thick hide. while they
tugged and jerked 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 place to rip and
tear on the great body OF the bear was
cutting and slashing furiously.s The
bear hurled tho swarm OF peccaries
right and left with sweep OF his enor-
nous paws, disemboweling two, and
throwing them clear TO the bottom Of
the hill. Another swoop of his paws
sent others Of the drove flying in all
directions. and the bear made another
dash for the tree. Again he was pulled
back, and again he scattered the pee
carries and tried to escape up the
tree.
But all in vain. The third time he
was snatched TO the ground, his coat
was red with blood from head TO tail,
and his thick hide was torn asunder in
dozen places. showing great red
patches of lacerated flesh, from which
the blood spurted in jets, or like water
dripping from the eavesduring heavy
storm. The peccaries threw them
selves upon him wherever there was n
place TO infict wound, until the bear
was completely hidden by the furious
little beasts. saw the plunging, tear
ing mass rise up four feet from the
ground twice after the bear was pulled
uON lilC luoi llultt Ahab
was struggling to cast of the savage
horde. Then the bears struggles were
over For minute or two the drove
tore and crunched and tossed about on
the spot where the bear had last been
thrown, and could hear the swapping
OF bones and the sickening sound OF the
flesh as it was ripped and chopped to
pieces by the teeth and tusks OF tho
peccaries. Then tho drove went back
into the hollow, grunting in u contented
way, and paying no attention to the
five OF their number that had died in
the combat. But there was not ves-
tige left OF the immense bear that less
than ten minutes before hnd loomed up
before me In such enormous proper
tions.
"When / went back to my compan-
ions related to them the capture and
frightful fate OF the bear, aud told
them how nearly the bear had sue
ceeded in escaping from the peccaries
up the tree.
"'You think he'd have escaped, do
youP' said an old plainsman. We'll,
let me tell you that II the bear had
climbed clear to the top of the tree he
wouldn't have escaped. He would only
have gained u respite. Peccaries never
let up on an enemy they have gone out
to lay low, as long MS that enemy is in
sight. II that bear had got up the tree
the peccaries would slmplyahave sat
down at the foot OF the tree and waited.
No matter how long they might have
had to stay thcre-.a week, a month,
three months, a year---there they would
have stayed until that bear either came
down or fell down, and they had scat
tered him to the winds. Peccaries
never give up. When they have set
their death watch on bear ora hunter
or mountain lion. or whate YER 1t may
be. strong guard is always left to see
that the victim does not escape. While
some are on guard others are of feed
ing, and their relieis are regular and
constant II 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 pee
carries sitting around the tree, each
with his eyes fixed immovably upon
him. II the bear could possibly have
fastened himself in the tree he might
starve to death. with the satisfaction
Of knowing that his carcass would not
fall 10 the ground to be torn into moth