The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-03-23
THE BOYS FIRST BEAR.

'Here-UrlU, come on. POOu lelloW.
What you dom way up here?"
Tom reached the brow of hill to
meet large, shaggy dog, which came
up from the other side.
'Oh, you here, too, Cliff" cried Tom,
as the dogs master appeared. "What
you after?'
"Wild cats. What you?"
"Huntin' old Brindle. Been after
her moren an hour. I'm goin' with
you"
"Guess you'd better not. You'd bet
ter take Brlndle home"
"Oh, she'll go by herself quiet
enough, now"
"But you amt got your gun"
''And it's too far to GO back for it.
But you'll let me take shot with
your'n if we have good luck"
"Well, come on, if you're sure your
folks won't mind"
''Poh! Pop says he's goin' to make
me the biggest hunter among the noun
tains. Course he wouldn't mind"
Cliff, thirteen years old, had felt
little doubt about assuming the re-
sponsibility of taking the younger boy
with him, but the sturdy strut with
which the stout mountain bred young
stcr asserted his ten years of dignity
treasured him.
You shot wild cats last winter.
didn't you?" asked Tom, as they
walked on.
Eyes, three of EN-" said Cliff, swell
ing with the proud recollection.
Awful fellows to fight, amt theyP"
"Well, you'd orto see!''
"Claws, hey?" said Tom, excitedly.
"Claws Well, if one got at you
there wouldn't be much of you left"
"Nice fur, hain't they?"
Long and soft and gallery, jes like
silk, | tell you what, Tom, it's what
I'm keen after 'em for. Wildcat fur
they call it lynx for perlite-brings a
tip-top price. If you and ! should have
good luck this winter we might each of
us have our own rifles before long"
10th boys excitedly quickened their
pace at the thought.
"What's Grit after up there?"
They had gradually been ascending
one of the Adirondack slopes the woods
growing thicker as they advanced. Grit
had been running on before, and was
now dashing about and barking with
great energy.
"Ie's got something in that heap O.
logs" said Tom.
"a coon, likely" said Cliff.
''Jes' let me take your gun a minute,
Cliff" coaxcd Tom.
"Well," said Cliff, good-naturedly,
'you hurry up and shoot bear"
Tom ran swiftly up the ascent to
where Grit was barking, shifting, and
flying back and forth in great excite
ment. Arriving at the log heap he
peeped over it and could dimly see that
something was moving among the dead
brush in a small ravine just beyond
them.
"Hi" exclaimed Tom, "ef that don't
look for the world big enough to be a
wildcat. Hold on"-as the animal be.
gan brisk movement in the bushes
"Hurry up, Cliff. / won't shoot, cause
III y ny IlSHI ,Noui SuihS' % d
gettin' away. | must"
CraclSle, rustic went the brush, as the
animal, evidently disturbed by Grit,
movements, made dash through them
Crack, went the breech-loader, as Ton
emptied both barrels into his game.
Cliff, who had stopped to examine
some tracks in the six-inch snow, was
Fastening up toward the logs wher
Tom turned toward him, crying:
"There's somethin' here"
Look out" screamed Cliff, as, within
half dozen feet of the smaller boy, al
snorts and grunts of anger, wounded
and bleeding with the charges of birt
shot, but not at all disabled.
eat her, Grit! Sicllem, good dog"
Grit was born hunter, and as Cliff
desperately cheered him on he set hi
the bear with such sure hold as to stol
her quick movements and turn her up
on her new foe.
Don't be scared. Tom" cried Cliff
his own voice trembling, although no
in fear for himself. "Gimme the gun
Get out o the way as quick as you can. =
He quickly placed couple of loaded
shells in the gun, ran little to on,
side and fred, but succeeded only in
wounding the bear near the mouth
Mad with rage and pain she sprang to
ward the boys.
"Scoot, Tom! let me tackle her." CRIED
Cliff Her crul paw was raised for ;
stroke at Tom, and Cliff, forgetting al
prudence, ran at the huge creature anc
gave it blow on the head with the
sgun. 1t broke on her solid skull, ant
with blow of her paw she struck Cliff
to the earth. But his blow told upol
her, and she stumbled and fell, rolling
partly over the boy.
Tom seized the barrel of the gun anC
dealt blow upon blow upon the enemy
head. Cliff scrambled out and addet
his kicks, while Grit still chung with
steady hold to her kind foot.
Run now, Tom," said Cliff, in hal
gasp.
But there was no run in Tom. TIL,
bear scrambled to her feet, and as Cliff
backed down the hill the two boy