Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-18

ndo. That made me laugh. and then
i amused myself by talking 10 himP
Why don't you mover said 7. i
know you got here first and have n
squatter claim on the quarter section.
but you ought not TO sit down on public
travel In that way He looked at me
as though was tho oldest specimen
he ever came across. and scratched his
ear with his left paw.
don't know how long he would
have remained there. but got tired OF
the fun and threw stick at him. Il
would have hit him on the nose. but
he warded 1t OF very cleverly, and
then his manner changed. He growled
little and began swaying his head
from side TO side. and when saw his
little eyes begin TO blaze with green
lightI knew that 1t was time TO quit
fooling. So | shot him through the
throat, and the ball cut his spiral cord
and dropped him like stuck pig. I
never met bear before, barring old
white-headed grizzlies, that wouldn't
seoot like scared wolf II you yelled
ut him.
IL prospected here and there In the
gulches for u month without finding
any thing more than color, and then
! worked across TO the Smith river
side and tried the tributaries TO that
stream. The mountains carried quartz
in many places, and lwas satisfied
that gold ought to be found In the
streams. 1t was while was working
down on the north side OF the range
that got into a muss with bull elk,
Of which this scar on my left hand is a
reminder. wanted some fresh meat
for achange. and one morning at day
light got up pretty high on the noun
tain side 10 catch the deer feeding In
the brush at the edge OF the timber.
had got tired OF Watching out for
dry sticks and picking every step. and
l just threw my gun over my shoulder
and tramped along free and easy.
hadn't gone ten yards when crash
went the brush of to one side and be.
hind me. / wheeled about aud brought
my rife down TO ready, and there, ,,
within a dozen yards or so, stood
big bull elk, looking any thing but
friendly.
"Now, l consider myself about as
good an average shot as The next MAI
but I'm ghost II l didn't miss that
elk as clear as a whistle with the best
Remington I ever handled. l never
took much stock In magazine rifles,
but l changed my mind right thon and
there. Whom the old bull snorted and
came for me would have given my
horse for Winchester. Not having
one, remembered that kind Provi-
ience had had the foresight to provide
me with a pair OF legs. and made
good use Of 'em. The timber was my
hope, and made for 1t on keen
Jump. with the elk good second in
he racc. II 1t had been two yards
arther you'd nevcr have heard this
tory.
"Thero was good-sizcd treo right
.head,- and l aimed straight for 1t.
There was no time to climb or slachen
peed, DO l ran to pass II on the right
ide, and just as got there embraced
he trunk with my left arm and swung
round behind 1t. The bull went
numbering past the tree just as swung
nut OF his way. but he made swipe at
no with his horhs and caught my left
,and against the tree, giving 1t a rake
nat smashed some OF the bones. He
'as a vicious old scoundrel, and chased
ne around In the timber for quite
while, but finally managed 10
cramble up a tree and get out OF his ,,
ray. He made two or three bluffs AZ
uttiug the tree down, and toll Won ,
o mado 1t shake, but reckon 1t gave ,
i'm n hcalaoho. aud altar pawlng
bout while he gave disgusting
mort and trottel away clickity-click :
own the mountain. :
II had hard time with my hand.
nd, being practically disabled, 1 CON
luded TO get out OF the mountains, and
ushed along around the western end
the range 1t was on that part OF
10 trip that struck 1t rich. Getting '
Aught In . storm in a very rugged !