The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-09-26
MY FIRST BEAR.

bearl Not one of the shivering, half starved
animals to be found in the country menag-
erie with staring coat and bleary eyes, look
ing anything but fierce as it crouches in its
corner insensible to the stirring up" of the
attendants stick, or pacing aimlessly across
its cage and nibbling in the friendliest way
the nuts which the fearless schoolboy tenders,
but real, roaring, unclaimed wild bear
The one is very different from the other Be
fore knew what a wild bear really was |
had great contempt for the tribe and often
dreamed of the slaughter | would work if |
could only come across a few good
specimens. | got the chance one day
when | least expected it. 1t was in
September, 1885, in Manitoba, toward
the close of the Riel rebellion. had
been sent from Battleford with a detach-
ment of mounted police to scour the country
as far as Stony Lake in search of several
half breeds and Indians who were wanted
for completely in the murders of the white
settlers at Frog Lake. 1t was on the home
ward journey that met my bear. We had
left Frog Lake in the gray dawn of the morn
ing, and had ridden steadily along all the hot
day, pausing only for an hour by an alkaline
marsh pond to water the horses and eat a
meal. The police were riding 'easy," with
unbuttoned jackets, and pipes in their
mouths and the prisoners, wrapped in their
gaudy blankets, were huddled together in the
wagons asleep for the most part, quite in
different to the jolting of their carriages and
the blistering heat. | had ridden myself so
long that my horse Dragon, a magnifi-
cent animal of seventeen hands, and q pure
broncho, showed signs of fatigue: and had
eased him for few miles by tying him to the
tail end of blackboard into which | Jumped
for little rest. My companions were two
Indian prisoners, young fellows, and both en-
tertaining and interesting to the last degree.
Pas-qui-ac, the elder was tall and strong,
magnifcently built and accounted the best
long distance runner of his tribe More than
once he offered to run for his liberty against
any horse in my little troop, an invitation
which | was obliged to decline. Mass-ega-
wap, the younger, was a mere lad, fine in
limb and feature, and with large, melting,
coal black eyes, which would have made
fortune to any Belgravia belle. (Pas-qui-ac
was tried for arson on my return to Battle
ford, but although acquitted by the jury,
was held on another charge of horse
stealing, and sent back to Edmon-
ton by the police. Mass ega wap
was found guilty of manslaughter,
and sentenced to twenty years. imprisonment
in the Wood Mountain penitentiary at Win
nipeg, from which he was subsequently dis
charged, on account of the general amnesty
granted by her majesty the queen.)
Shortly before shutdown the sharp eyes of
! Pas-qui-ac described a small black object al
most on the horizon line, and as we neared it
his excitement knew no bounds, for he de-
clared it to be an antelope. Mass-ega-wap,
not long behind his dusky brother in the dis
] 81. ~
head of game; and it was amusing to see the
frantic gesticulations and hear the cultural
chatter of these native hunters as they grew
more and more excited. When we came to
within 500 yards of the place where it lay,
apparently asleep, fanced / could discern
an animal, but to my Impractical eyes it
seemed no larger than dog, for this extraor-
binary discrepancy between the real and
the imagined size of objects is well known on
the prairie. At any rate it was now certain
that a wild animal of some sort was before
me, and so far unheedful of my presence. To
seize my Winchester and ram a few shells
into my pocket took but a moment and the
next saw me out of the blackboard and into
the saddle again. With the reins hanging
ON his neck and guiding Dragon with my
knees, | loaded as l rode, and managed to
get within 800 yards of my victim, when, to
my surprise, he rose, and standing high on his
hind legs, proclaimed himself to be bear. The
sight of the galloping horse must have dis
concerted him somewhat, for he dropped al
once on all tours and turned tail. 1t was
with difficulty l gave nim a snap shot as he
ran, for he was far to my right; but could
Just hear his scream of defiance as Dragon
threw up his heels and bolted. | had never
fred a shot from his back, and had taken il
for granted that he would 'stand the
racket"
After circuitous gallop, during which
bewailed my i'll luck, and wondered if
should get within range again, managed tx
pull up in the neighborhood, indicated by
two little shrubs, of where 1 had fired my
shot l tried in vain to track by blood Oh
footmark the retreating quarry, for the hare
sandy soil refused to give a sign, and ther
was nothing for it but to ride ahead and hope
had not far to go, for, after a canter up
steepish bit of slope, not 200 yards away, wa
: my bear, standing on his hind legs, roarin,
with fury and full of fight Then followed
brief but Intellectual fight with my horse
Neither voice nor spur awaited U
force him another inch nearer tn
paving adversary; and fearful of los
ing the game, but without a though
as to the recklessness of the proceeding,
. jumped from his back, and saw him flynn
away while advanced alone. 1t viii be fol
given me, / trust if l acknowledge tina
during these moments l was excited know
i it was not the correct thing to do, and mos
! hunters are so cool and collected on paper
Z are they nOtl
walked on quickly till was about hur
dred yards from Master Bruin, and determi1
: ing TO make a sure shot, | knelt and aimed g
him. He did not look very big, and all m
nervousness had disappeared as pulled til
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