The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-23
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 rs outposts we had bivouacl<cd
III mud and water inches deep, rain and
hailstorms had soaked and stiffened us
for days ut 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 10 the comforts
of home.
But when | reached my rooms one of
the first letters l picked up was from
my old hunting companion, Count EltZ,
and contained an Invitation to join him
for two weeks hunt in his favorite
haunt, the Carpathian mountains.
Gone down as soon as you get this, s"
the letter ran. Il have seen the tracks
of one of the biggest bears that ever
walked and shall wait for you To Join
me in giving it the ;'coup de grace
Deer and boars were never more plcnti-
full nor in better condition. Come down
and be thawed out by our glorious Hun
garian sun"
| could not resist; balls and thcaters
could go, and | astonished my servant,
honest old August, who was polishing
up my parade clothes, 10y telling hin
To drop everything and pack my hunt
ing traps A visit To the colonel was
next in order and without much trouble
/ got three weeks leave.
left town in a rainstorm, but when
we steamed into Vienna next morning
the sky was clear and the air balmy
and exhilarating. Thirty four 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, we
had splendid sport bringing seven deer
and three wild boars and quantities of
smaller game during the first week.
SUNDAY we rested and EItz proposed
we should start out next day for the
bears lair.
1T will take two days to reach its
retreat" he said, but we need make
no preparations, as we can spend the
night ut my forcster's."
During our tramp next day we saw
many of the forest inhabitants, start
ling here and there Il deer or lynx, and
once nearly stumbling over a wild SOW
with "A litter of little brIstlers- The
little fellows tore headlong through
the underground, but the SOW showed
fight, and not wishing To kill her we
had To retreat. In the afternoon we
spied a fine young vixen, sitting be
fore a hollow oak stump and watching
with evident pride the gambols of four
Young cubs. They were playing with
n Young leveret their mother had
brought home alive. We had hardly
time to admire the antics OF the grace
full little creatures when the mother
gave IA short, sharp bark, snapped up
the leveret and in a wink the whole
family was safe underground
We reached the forester's house, or
rather, hut, before sunset Two
great boarhounds sprang up at our ap-
proach and came barking and bound
inc toward us. They were old friends
of Eltz's and nearly threw him down
bv their clumsy welcome. Their
master was not at home, but we made
ourselves comfortable, lighting a fire
and filling our pipes with some good
natural leaf that hung over the manteL
Erhardt came in before dark. lie had
some news for us, for he had seen
the big bear we were after that
very morning. lie had crept up
to within few yards OF it
as it was feasting in a whortle berry
patch about three miles north or us.
lie declared it was n stranger TO those
parts, having probably been 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 a better huntsmau than the Herr
Graf" he said, ~ but his success has
made hum foolhardy. Don't hesitate to
use your rifle if he gets into close quar-
tcrs with that big bear. l had rather
see my right hand cut off than hair OF
his head injured" promised to see tc
IL that his master should not run Too
,r-ent risks if | could prevent it, and
! tho honest follow gave me his hand
R,, the time we were dressed he had Z
! GOOD breakfast ready, and half an houl
| later we were heading for the whortle
when he reached it nothing was III
.;,rht .eThe brutes are getting on
| their winter fat and are too lazy toi
anything" said Eltz. Let us clmo at
,bc Lifts a piece and see if we ear
chance upon their retreat. We oegal
) ,bo ascent and in an hour had LETT th'
i 'Iaciduous trees behind - the regior
crew wilder and made progress mor'
5;0cult. We scrambled through brusi