Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-01
In A BEARS CAVE.
A Hunting Adventure in the wilds
of Hungary.

The Russian maneuvers were over
and the army was thankful, for the sea-
son had been one of the worst the old
est of us could remember. The caval-
ry had had the hardest time. Sta
toned as outposts we had bvouackcd
in mud and water inches deep, rain and
hai'storns had soaked and stiffencd us
for days at a time, some of our best
horses had gone lame, and the cook
ing had been atrocious. | don't know
when we had all been so glad to get
back TO our depots and TO the comforts
of home.
Dut when | reached my rooms one of
the first letters picked up was from
my old hunting companion, Count Eltz,
and contained an invitation to join him
for two weeks hunt in his .avorite
haunt, the Carpathian mountains
Come down as soon as you get this"
the letter ran. 81 have seen the tracks
of oncof the biggest bears that ever
walked and shall wait for you to join
me in giving it the ,coup dc grace
Deer and boars were never more plenti-
iul nor in better condit on. Come down
and be thawcd out by our glorious Hun
gGrian sun"
could not resist; balls and theaters
gould go, and astonishcd my servant
honest old August, who was polishing
up my parade clothes, by telling him
to drop everything and pack my hunt
tnrr A ,-,.;t 20 al
next in order and without much trouble
/ got three weeks leave.
left town in n rainstorm, but when
we steamed into Vienna next morning
the sky was clear and the dir balmy
and exhilarating. Thirty-fonr hours
later, by means of rail- boat and stage,
was eating supper with my genial
friend Eltz, under the shadows of the
Carpathians.
Favored by the fine fall weather, VIC
had splendid sport, bringing seven deer
and three wild boars and quantities of
smaller game during the first week.
Sunday we rested and Eltz proposed
we should start out next day for the
bears lair.
ut will take two days to reach it's
retreat" he said but we need make
no preparations, as we can spend the
night at my foresters."
During our tramp next day we saw
many of the forest Inhabitants, start
ling here and there deer or lynx, and
once nearly stumbling over wild sow
with ltitNr - ltsfln 1,,;etl1r- n1,.~
little fellows tore hcadlong through
the underground, but the SOW showed
fight, and not wishing TO kill her we
had TO retreat. In the afternoon we
spicd fine young vixen, sitting be-
fore hollow oak stump and watching
with evident pride the ganbols of four
young cubs. They Nre playing with
young lcverct 9 Il mother had
brought home alive. We had hardly
time to admire the antics of the grace
full little creatures when the mother
gave short, sharp bark, snapped ur
the lcvcrct and in wink the whole
family was safe underground.
We reached the forestcr's house, or
rather. hut, before sunset. Two
great boarhounds sprang up at our ap-
proach and came barking and bound.
ing toward us They were old friends
of Eltz's and nearly threw him down
by their clumsy welcome. Their
master was not at home, but we made
ourselves comfortable, lighting n fire
and filing our pipes with some good
natural leaf that hung over the mantcl.
Erhardt came in before dark. He had
some news for us, for. he had seen
the big bear we were after that
very morning He had crcpt up
to within u few yards of il
as it was fcasting in whortlcberry
patch about three miles north of us.
lie declared it was a stranger to those
parts. having probably lcen driven
away from the lower plains Erhardt
never voluntarily took part in any
hunting expedition, and Eltz, respect
ing his feelings, never asked him to.
He had an observing mind and his
stories of animal traits were extremely
interesting.
On n heap of deer and bear skins
Eltz and l slept like tops. Early next
morning Erhardt awakened me to give
me a word of caution. There never
was better huntsman than the Herr
Graf" he said, "but his success has
made hun foolhardy. Don't hesitate to
u SC your rifle if he gets INTO close quar-
ters with that big bear. had rather
sec my right hand cut off than hair OF
his head injured" promised to see to
1T that his master should not run toe
great risks if could prevent 1t, and
the honest fellow gave me his hand
BY the time we were dressed he had
good breakfast ready, and half on houI
later we were beading for the wbortle
bgFry patch