Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-11
BELEAGUERED
By W THOMSON.

Copyright, 1891. by American Press Associa-
 tion.l
 Nsnr1eks or the human combatants ana the fitful volleys of revolver shots:
 't5oys,' sald Gus Taylor, some ones getting hurt. All of you, except the three married men, get your guns and we'll go down and help
 ''At this moment, laundering along the hard trail, his horse covered with foam, came Jim Burrows, who, hearing the first shots, had dashed in at headlong speed. Two words appraised him of the state of matters, and he almost screamed: Why, my Godl hez them fool boys bin crazy huff ter tackle two full sized grizzlies with ther smallbore popguns! Here, Morris, quick! Hand out that big rifle O yourn!
 s'The man hurriedly produced the all ready loaded sixteen pound weapon and placed it ill the hands of Jim, who, fol- lowed by nearly the whole crowd, rushed down the slope.
 "As none but the married men had been left behind, I, of course, was in this party, and when we reached the battle ground fearful scene presented itself.
 "Prone on the earth lay the insensible forms of Sam Bidwell and three other nen, while the nine who still kept their feet were frantically loading and firing their revolvers at the ravening, blood covered brutes, which seemed to be so far disabled as to be incapable of mak- ing further rapid charge, though it would have been certain death to any one who should venture within possible reach of a blow from their murderous forepaws. Stand back, all uv you, shouted Burrows; 'ye thought ez well shoot at CT log ez the bodies uv them critters and coolly advancing in front of us all he leveled the heavy gun and sent its long bolt through the brain of the nearest bear, which thereupon drop ped stone dead. as easily killed in this way as dog.
 "The remaining grizzly, on seeing its mate fall, staggered with bloodshot eyes and foaming mouth toward Jim in last desperate rally. The experienced hunter stood stock still until the animal was almost upon him, and then springing to one side he placed the muzzle of re- volver which he had jerked from one of the men against the beasts ear and pulled the trigger.
 "No more instantaneous could have been the e2ect of lightning flash, for on receiving the shot the shaggy mon ster sank lifeless to the ground with scarcely a tremOr.
 "'Now, boys said he, 'ye see these varmints is nuthin ter kill when fel- Ter knows how. Elf you'd shot 'em in the brain stead uv wastin lead on ther carkisses all th1 misfortin' wouldn't a happened. I've seen a grizzly smash three men artcr common small rifle bullet he'd gone clear through his heart.
 "We now turned to our wounded com rades, all of whom, at first sight, we be- lieved to be dead; but after a nasty ex- animation the captain pronounced them, though terribly torn and lacerated, not beyond recovery. Every one of the four, besides fearful flesh wounds, had a shoulder or arm broken, and, although all in time became sound again, this un- fortunate business, the result of igno. rant rashness, delayed us for more than three weeks. But at last, gentlemen, concluded MT. Ashton, "we reached California, and some of us, as you know were well repaid for all hardships."
 THE END.