The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26
instinct told him there must be game around,

instinct told him there must be game around,
although be had heard no sound.
He got up and Ontlnued his way care
fully. keeping sharp lookout for the AMI
mails which he knew were near He soon
heard a sound ahead OF him. and by looking
carefully made out the forms OF two bears
walking side by side. They were too far
off for a good shot. and Tuly began TO
creep up Oh them. keeping behind trees as
much as possible. 1t was evident they had
not become aware OF his presence, and he
gained on them rapidly. When he had
almost got where he wanted both ninals
disappeared and he wondered what had
become OF them.
He looked around carefully. but could
make out no signs OF the game OF which he
had felt So sure. Disappointed and angry,
he concluded to give them up, as it was now
commencing to grow dark. although objects
could still be distinguished at a long dis
lance. He bad hardly made up his mind
when he heard growl In front Of him. and
there, not twenty feet away, was a large
grizzly, that appeared to be one OF those he
had seen before.
In an instant his rife was raised and n
bullet was sent between the animals Shout
ders. 1t did not fall al once, SO he pulled
the lever of his rifle for another shot, and
this time sent ball between The monsters
eyes.
1t rolled over, but before Tully could
realize the fact he was grabbed from behind
by what felt like an earthquake but in re-
atty was the mate OF the bear he had just
killed. He could never tell just how IL ali
happened, but his rife was knocked ten
feet away and he was thrown on the ground
so violently that his knife and revolver fell
from his belt AT any rate, he could not
have used them. because he was stunned
for moment, and when he opened his eyes
the old she bear that had knocked him
down WAS dragging him roughly toward the
body Of his victim. He was bruised and
dazed and could not have made fight If all
the weapons in the world were put into his
hands. Still he was conscious Of what was
going on.
The old bear got him where she wanted
him aud then began smelling her dead mate.
She seemed satisfied lie was extinct and sat
down on her launches as If debating what
10 do. Tuliy expected every moment to be
his last, and knew that without weapons
he would have no show in fight.
The position in which he had been left
lying was most uncomfortable one. so he
moved little 10 one side. In an instant
tile old bear was upon him aud had buried
her teeth in his shoulder and began tearing
his clothes from him as If preparing him
for eating. The pain was frightful. but
nothing could be done but patiently wait
for death, which the man prayed would not
be long In coming.
He was cripple now az well as being
defenseless. There was no hope for the
future, so he closed his eyes In the fast
gathering twilight and tried as hard az he
could to pass away into that hereafter of
which he Lad heard. 1t was not hard TO
die. He was even surprised at the little
regret he felt because he had 10 leave the
world. No; it was not the least terrible.
In a moment darkness would come and
that awful monsters hold on his shoulder
and her terrible scratchings would no
longer cause him pain. Oh, If it would
only hurry up and kill him. He really
desired death, and then began to wonder
why it did not come.
He opened his eyes again, but 1t was too
dark TO see much. The old bear had
beside him with one Of her claws sticking
into his side. She got up and walked
around him few times He could hear
ner soft but heavy tread as he lay there
helpless and lo1ged for death. He could
feel the blood running from dozen small
ground from the terrible wound in his
shoulder. Were the bones brokenp Well,
it did not make much difference ANYHOW he
would soon be where no would have no
use for them Hundreds of such thoughts
ran through MS head while the bear paced
around him as IL looking for the tenderest
place in which to insert her teeth.
lie listened to her and then began listen
Ing to the wind blowing through the pines
Oh the mountain top, and soon a feeling of
pleasure came over him and his wounds
ceased to pain. 1t was ecstatic 10 lie there
and hear the wind and feel as II floating
through air.
But suddenly the bear stopped walking.
and, putting her teeth into his other shoul-
der began dragging him again. But she
didn't take hold feroclously as she did be-
fore, and seemed to be dragging him rather
easily. FULLY could not see anything and
didn't want 10.
He felt himself being dragged for long
time, IL seemed ages, and he knew he must
be covered with wounds of different kinds.
Suddenly she stopped and scratched around
| and In lew moments took hold of him
| again. The next moment FULLY felt him
| self fall and thought she had thrown him
over precipice. But he soon struck bot
| tom, which was soft, aud then everything
became dark and he felt nothing.
| When he next opened his ewes Il was
still dark so he closed them again, but felt
| around with the arm that was movable and
found he was in small place with fur ali
around him. He was warm and felt quite
| comfortable. only his arm panied fright
| fully. A deep growl interrupted his inyes-
tigatiUn. so he lay still. He opened his
| eyes occasionally and after what seemed n
| long time saw the place he was In begin To
| fill with light from hole several feet above
where he was lying.
BY degrees the light increased and Tully
made out that he was In bears lair, and
that the old bear who had used him SC
roughly was sleeping beside him with sew
eral cubs. In fact he and the bear family
were so tangled up 1t was hard TO say where
M han nd eha thAr Aol ID