The Forrest City times., 1893-09-08

ware OI the Dalu-1dce pear. DeiuH ld- miliar with the mountains, after con siderable effort we induced Pennington to accompany our party, taking along three excellent dogs, we'll trained and courageous
 But Joe stipulated that we were not to get into a controversy with the bald face, because he said it would treat of our party to the foothills, if nothing more serious.
 We had been in the mountains week. had killed several deer and black bear and any number of birds. On the morning of the seventh day we left young Englishman named Kingsbury in camp, as on the day before some animal had visited our quarters, eaten lot of bacon and played havoc geher- ally with supplies. There had been a good deal of chaffing about the bald face, and Pennington had grown tired of warning us of the danger of an en- counter. However, as we left camp the old trapper shouted out, as he whistled to his dogs and walked away: Say. Kingsbury, if you see a bald-face ] ad- wise you to make break for the mule and light out for the valley; for if you don't we'll never collect enough of the remains to ship back to the folks at home"
 The mule referred to was staked out about one hundred yards away in a level clear spot. The Englishman didn't re- ply, but held up his rifle and big hunting knife as an answer.
 We thought nothing more of the cir cums stance. The days sport was fairly good. one deer, one mountain sheep and several birds being the result of the hunt. We met at an agreed spot some three miles from the camp and proceeded together to our quarters, ex- pecting that Kingsbury would have prepared for us a substantial dinner. Reaching an elevation some distance from camp we paused a moment, when Pennington remarked: By gosh, where's the mule?" We all looked, but no mule could we see. Possibly it had broken away and gone off, or it might be hidden in the grass, lying down. but field-glass failed to reveal the animal.
 Proceeding slowly toward camp we soon reached the space where the mule had been left.
 There was no longer any question where the mule was. It was lying on the ground completely disemboweled, its back broken and its head literally torn off.
 One word told the story. A bald face bear had discovered the animal, and it being hobbled so securely that escape was impossible, had killed 1t. The grass showed that there had been q struggle, and the immense tracks of the bear were plainly seen. It's marks on the back and side of the mule looked as if cleaver had been at work. | Three ribs were torn away from the | backbone and one hind leg almost stripped of it's flesh. An aX in the hands of a giant could have done no 1 better.
 1 With our guns ready to fire on the | instant we all noiselessly crossed over to the camp only to find it vacant. Kingsbury's Winchester lay on the ground some little distance away, the kettles, pans and camp fixtures were knocked about as if a cyclone had struck them, the tent was thrown to the ground and across it were the bloody tracks of a bear. To my ex- cited imagination they looked as large as bushel measure, and I could al- most see the flying form of our camp keeper and the pursuing terror of the mountains.
 Kingsbury was nowhere to be seen. Everything was perfectly quiet. But we knew that the trouble had been re- cent, because the blood still oozed from the neck of the dead mule, and there was a fire at the camp not nearly burned out.
 l Meanwhile a shot from Blake's rifle rang through the forest and it's rever' berations had scarcely died away when the voice of Kingsbury gave answer faint and long distance off The dogs were away in a moment and the yells of our partner at intervals mingled with the tongue of the dogs.
 Better load up your belts with shell and get up in these little trees, boys, 1 said Pennington. flor that animal will be back here powerful soon."
 We were so excited that no second suggestion was required. We could tell by the cry of the dogs when they reached the scene of action, and in a little time they quit barking. few minutes later the pup came tearing | through the brush, followed by noise which greatly resembled an immense powder bounding down hill.