The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-01

h""USAS N"' iSdhlhB hSuihob ~ bIOS' ho
was as white as a sheet. He was Dan
Space, the hunter who had wanted TO
start right in after the bear without
waiting for morning.
"Where's the b'ar?" exclaimed Abel.
Didn't see no b'arI" replied Dan, his
teeth chattering.
The bear had come out not twenty
feet from him, crossed the creek ard
gone on north.
"That bar most run over you, by
Juniperl' cried Abel, "an' you've stood
by an made present of it to Cub Con-
ners, Std o. film it with leadl''
But the dogs were on the trail, and,
led by Abel, we followed, in the hope
of still saving the bear from Cub Con
ners. All but Dan Space. Abel told
him his eyesight was too poor to hunt
bear, and sent him home. For six
miles, over hills, through thickets,
across hollows we followed the bear
and the dogs, Harassed by the dogs,
the bears progress was slow, but rapid
enough to keep just far enough ahead
of us to prevent anyone getting shot.
"If we don't gether in that bar fore
he gifts through that laurel patch yen
der, or else git him p'inted south agin, 50
said Abel, "he's Cub Conners' meat, an
nothin' surer"
The laurel patch was off to the right,
and the bear was heading for it. "A bel
made short cut across hill to reach
the patch and go around to it's upper
edge before the bear could reach it.,
directing us to take positions in the
hollow south of the patch. '5
"If the bar gifts through them
laurels," said he, "I'll be there an stop
him with some lead. If the lead don't
heft him down so he can't travel no
more, he'll turn an lead the dogs back
ag'in, an then you fellers kin put some
more lead in him. If he keeps on
a-goin', we've saved him anyhow, fer
Wen be gittin' him back out o. the
reach O. Cub Conners."
Abel got around the patch before the
bear got into it, and we got to our
places in the hollow some time after
the bear disappeared in the laurels
Ten minutes later the report of Abel's
rifle echoed among the hills. Not long
afterward the bear and the two dogs
came tumbling out of the thiclSet and
rolled in a heap down knoll into the
hollow. When the bear got to his feet
and shufhed on his way again only one
dog followed him The other he had
crushed to death in the struggle down
the knoll. Three rife balls were sent
after him as he crossed the hollow, the
remaining dog at his heels, but he kept
right on. We were soon joined by
Abel, who, although the bear had sue
cessfully run the gauntlet of every gun
and had killed one of the dogs, was
radiant.
We've euchered Cub Conners, all
the sane!' he exclaimed. ~ wish that
dog layin' over yender had a ben him!
Well git that bar back into our laurel
patch, an then he's our meatp'
Back over the six miles of hill and
thicliet and hollow, weary, hot, hungry,
thirsty, tattered and soiled, we fol-
lowed the trail once more. 1t was late
in the afternoon when we ran the
bear into the laurels we had started
him from in the morning.
"Now, then, by Juniper!" exclaimed
Abel, I'm gointer foller that bar
right into the patch, an have some fun
with him. We got him away from Cub
Corners pooty slick, an I'll twit the
consarned pirate of it next time 1 see
him."
Abel was about to plunge into the
laurel patch, after directing us where
to go, when the report of rifle, quick
ly followed by another, came from the
edge of the patch, off to the right
Abel looked surprised. l hurried off
in the direction of the shots, and Abel
came along. On that side of the laurels
| came suddenly upon a strapping big
backwoodsman. He was leaning on
the muzzle OF his rife One foot was
on big bear that lay dead on the
ground, with Jim Souser's remaining
dog shifting at it. The woodsman was
looking at us with a peculiar grin.
Abel stopped as if he had been shot
when he saw the man. AS soon as he
found his voice he exclaimed:
Cub Conners, by Juniper!"
81 ben tryin' to round up this cum
MIN old bar fer two weeks" said the
woodsman, but he was too many fer
me alone. I'm much obleedged to you
fellers for helpin' me out with him."
He grinned worse than ever. Abel
turned on his heel and strobe back to
camp, and | followed him. He didn't
speak for an hour. Then he smote the
fiat of one hand with his fist and ex-
claimed:
BARS hain't safe in these woods no
morew-N. Y. Sun.