The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24

all went. The dogs had hunted in the great
tangle Of laurels but short time when
they began to give tongue in excited Ct, chorus;
bent and snapped like trees In a hurricane.
There was great disturbance in the swamp;
one one aSge ~ The tbic;keT Tbe cause of the
unwonted agitation promised TO soon reVeaI
itself in the open not more than twenty
feet from where Cal Bodne was posted,
with his rife cooked. ready TO welcome IL
That's Oh One Ear, sure! he salu. no
other bar that ever lived could thrash
them laures down like THAR!
Suddenly the barking OF the dogs changed
TO sharp. quick barking For a moment the
crashing in the laurels ceased Ihen al was
renewed with increased violence. mingled
with the yelps and howls Of the dogs and
furious cries and snarling OF the bear IL
was plain that the dogs had overtaken the
the swamp, and attacking him in the rear.
He had turned to defend himself.
Then the battle was on: p9ss AN ana n Dess
than hundred feet from the border OF the
patch, but the tangled bushes were SO
thick that the contending foes were hloasn
from view, and the excited hunters in the
open could only follow the progress OF the
fight by the violent swaying Of the laurels
as the battle waged TO the right and
Then Simon Bolivar unable to endure the
suspense. crawled into the thicket and be-
growth toward the scene OF the tumuituous
conflict, shouting words of encouragement
and command TO his gallant dogs.
His comrade 10 and fro along the
edge OF the swamp. rising on his toes and
craning his neck in vain efforts to get a
sight of at least enough or the pear TO iodse
q ball into, while he added loud and excited
cries of his own TO the general tumult. AT
intervals a peculiar yelp from a dog, sharp
and full of agony. sounded above the angry
monotony OF combined snarls and swapping
of bear and dogs. Each yelp OF this kind
was followed by an ominous decrease III the
volume of canine battle cries. There was a
sic ifiea rCa in a
stood.
Unless that fight is broke up toIable
heV no dogs to go back home with
Bodine was about TO plunge into the
swamp to give hand toward ending the
from the swamp and little cloud of blue
smoke foated up above the laurel tops,
not more than a dozen yards from the spot
where bear and dogs were stlil In dearly
conflict A howl Of pain and heavy fall
in the bushes followed the shot.
Simon Bolivar's bullet had gone home, but
its work was not complete. A second or
two later bruin was on his feet and once
more thrashing his way toward the euSe OF
the swamp, hurryng 10 escape his new and
unexpected foe Again the rifle cracked an
the thicket. Again the bear fell heavily,
and again rose and Stormed ahead, followed
The next moment bruins huge. shaggy
form broke from the thicket Niger,
Simon Boliver's gamest dog, was alone on
the bears trail. He came out limping and
bleeding but close on bruins heels. The
bear stopped and tried TO get up on ms
hind feet Blood poured from his mouth
in a stream and dyed ms ,s black co, coat rec
ond and then, bullet-riddled and torn by
the dogs. fell in a heap on the ground. IN
;n}c,eI sniffeS and grov,Ied at the blood
stained carcass.
iodine hurried up, and with just one
glance at the dead bears head. swung his
fur cap and gave tongue 10 yells of tri-
umph that filled the woods.
Hi! Simon Bolivarr' ne shouted. Its
Jone Smleys bar. It's Oh One Ear.
sures your Twin. Or amt We Twin in
Eyes, I'm a-livin'r' Simon Bolivar yelled
back I'm alvin, but three o my dogs
amt! They're tore and scattered round
here like sassage meat, Here's Maize an
Tiger an Cobblsrl Where's Niger? Is
Part Of him is" replied Bodine.
When Simon Bolivar had fought his
way out of the laurels. tattered and bleed
ward to meet him: and the old hunter
wept at the sight of him. Then he looked
at the bear and said:
rs IL sure Smiley's bar, Calvin
Look at his one carr exclaimed Bodine
Amt no. other bar carryin' only one ear
around in these woods, Is there
dogs o. mine has got away with many a
bar that had two ears. an now 10 think
that three on ,em should hef TO lay lay Gown
fer a sheep stealth bar with only one"'
And Simon Bolivar kicked the carcass
savaSely.
"But We must remember Simon. that
this is Smileys bar, an that he had a
terrible grudTe!" argued Bodine. IF some
drunken mule driver should slip in an
snce one o your ars off, would you stop
at knockin' over two or three dogs TO
kinder ease the grudge?"
Dunno ez i would said Simon Bolivar.
When the news that vindictive Old One
Ear had fallen spread in the settlement the
rejoicing was great, and Simon Bolivar and
Cal Bodine were covered with glory.