Arizona republican., 1893-01-24
IN A BEARS CAVE.
A Hunting Adventure in the Wilds
 of Hungary.

The Russian maneuvers were over
 and the army was thankful, for the sea.
 son had been one of the worst the old.
 est of us could remember. The caval.
 ry had had the hardest time. Sta
 toned as outpoSts we had bivouaclied
 in mud and water inches deep, rain and
 bailstorms had soaked and stiffened US
 for days at time, some of our best
 horses had gone lame, and the cook
 inc had been atrocious. l don't know
 when we had all been so glad to get
 back to our depots and to the comforts
 of home.
 But when reached my rooms one of
 the first letters l picked up was from
 my old hunting companion, Count Eltz,
 and contained an invitation to join him
 for two weeks hunt in his favorite
 haunt the CarPathian mountains.
 Gone down as soon as you get this. Y"
 the letter ran. 'I have seen the tracks
 of one of the biggest bears that ever
 walked and shall wait for you to join
 me m giving it the ;'coup de grace. '
 Deer and boars were never more plenti-
 iul nor in better condition. Come down and be thawed out by our glorious Hun gariau sun.
 Icoud not resist; balls and thcaters could go, and l astonishcd my servant, honest ull August, who was polishing up my parade clothes, by telling hin to drop everything and pack my hunt ing traps. A visit to the colonel was next in order and without much trouble Igot three weeks leave.
 left town in a rainstorm, but when We steamed into Vienna next morning the sky was clear and the air balmy and cyhiIarating. Thirty-four hours later, by means of ra.l, boat and stage, Twas eating supper with my genial friend E.Jz, under the shadows of the Carpat4lsu,.
 Favored by the fine fall weather, we had splendid sport, bringing seven deer and three wild boars and quantities of smaller game during the first week. Sunday we rested and Eltz proposed We should start out next day for the bears lair.
 Tt will take two days to reach it's retreat, he said, but we need make no preparations, as we can spend the night at my forCster's."
 During our tramp next day we saw many of the forest inhabitants, start. ling here and there a deer or lynx, and once nearly stumbling over a wild SOW with litter of little brlstlcrs. The little fellows tore hcudlOng through the undrrg- -Owth, but the SOW showed fight, and not wishing to kill her we had Co retreat In the afternoon we Spied fine young vixen, sitting be. fore hollow oak stump and watching with evident pride the gambols of four young cubs, They were playing with young lcveret their mother had brought home alive. We had hardly time to admire the antics of the grace iul little creatures when the mother gave a short, sharp bark, snapped up the levcret and in a wink the whole family was safe underground.
 We reached the forester's house, or rather hut, before sunset. Two great boarhounds sprang up at our ap- Proach and came barking and bound ing toward us. They were old friends oi LItzs and nearly threw him down by their clumsy welcome. Their master was not at home, but we made ourselves comfortable, lighting q fire and hi,lng our pipes with some good natural leaf that hung over the mantel Lrhardt came in before dark. He had some news for us, for he had seen the blg bear we were after that very morning. He had crcpt up 'o within few yards of it as It was feasting in a whortle berry patch about three miles north of us He declared it was a stranger to those parts having probably been driven away from the lower plains. Erhardt never voluntarily took part in any hunting expedition, and Eltz, respect ,,ng his feelings, never asked him to. ue had an observing mind and his stories of animal traits were extremely interesting.
 On heap of deer and bear skins L''< and slept like tops Early next morning Erhardt awakened me to give ne a word of caution. There never was better huntsman than the Herr 'rai' he said "but his success has made hun foJlhardy, Don't hesitate to use your rifle if he gets into close quar- .eF' with that big bear, l had rather see my right hand cut off than hair of .'S . head injured" promised to see to U 'Aat his master should not run too 5'ea' !, risks if l could prevent it, and Ine n honest fellow gave me his hand. .! Ine t.lne we were dressed he had a soou breakfast ready, and half an hour .~'er we were heading for the whortle- berry patch.