Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-12-08
4 Thanksgiving Bear.
A FireIlunt on the Little Red in the
Far West
BY I. G. Harbaugh.

The homes of the Dmcans and Tay
lOrS were situated near the Little Red
Il swift stream that flowed through Il
region but little opened as vet. and
still inhabited by the animals of the
west.
Indeed, bears rOamed at will through
the dense cane brakes, and not infre,
quently made reprisals on the scatter
ed settlers. Wolves, too, abounded in
the region, and in winter their long
dismal hoWIin" made the cold night.
hideouS
The Duncan and Taylor boys-Rov
and Phil-had been companions from
childhood and when their parents set
tied in the new country they were in
their element rs they could roam the
woods or paddle down the Little Red.
every now and then picking up Il bear
or turkey with their trusty rifles.
1t was not long before they became
known rs the best young Nimrods in
the whole district, and whenever they
started on Il hunt it was taken for
-
Il well-filled bag.
One Of their favorite methods OF bag
ging wild game was by the tirc-hunt.
and these adventures generally took
place Oh the river. They would set
UP their torch in the canoe, and while
padding up stream or floating with
the current, would by it's light see the
Il
shot was pretty sure to bring down
the fascinated targets.
The night before Thanksgiving Phil
Taylor Strolled over to the Duncan
homestead With proposition almost
sure to find favor with his young com
panion.
This was nothing less than fire
hunt on the river for the purpose of,
as Phil expressed it, "bagging Il
Thanksgiving bear
I'VE can float past the big brakes
near the hend,' said he, as he laid his
proposition before Roy. Tom Hunter
who came through there the other day,
saw lots Of fresh signs, and we may be
able to get a big one for tomorrow
feast"
Taken with the prospect of some
exciting adventure, Roy at once ac-
guessed, and the two boys began to
prepare for the fire-hunt
The canoe was dragged forth, and
the pine knots for the torch gathered
and made ready. A torch of pine
knots, if fashioned properly, will throw
Il fierce glow for many rods over the
water, and animals will come to the
shore and gaze at it, fascinated, as
it We're. until the unerring bullet of
the hunter in the canoe terminal eS
their careers
The young hunters of the Little Red
waited with some Impotence for night
fall, and when the hour came they
launched the canoe and sprang into
it.
The torch lad been placed in the
stern of the boat, and Phil, who was
to have the first shot, took his seat
underneath it, i'll such a position that
the light, streaming over him and from
behind, would throw its radiance along
eyes of the wolf or bear, but without
the glare's dazzling his own eyes.
In some places the river was danger.
GUS on account Of unseen rocks over
which the waters boiled like a cauld
ron, while in others canoeing was per
fectly safe; but the boys knew the
stream well, and had padded it on
Taking the paddles, Roy, with d
sharp lookout along shore, drove the
light bark into the middle of the river
while Phil. under the torch, watched
the tall canes that lined the edge and
tried to catch the first sight of game
The night was calmly beautiful, and
the paddles made no noise in the water
as the canoe swept down stream. As
they neared the bend where they ex
pected to catch sight of a living target
Phil and Roy increased their watch
| fitness.
All at once the paddle in Roy's SUI
| pie hands seemed to rest. and he glanc
ed at his companion.
Phil at the same moment had seer
what had caught Roy's eye.
| On the right, where the TIL canes
seemed to seek the solitude of the
stars, cleaned a pair of intense eyes
very close together, and near the
ground.
1T is old Ephriam," whispered Phi
as he moved his rife and leaned for
ward for a better look I'VE hav,
found our Thanksgiving bear at lastr
The canoe had reached a quiet place
| in the current and Roy had brought
| it to anchor there.
Don't miss him. he said to Phil
I'm all my life never saw eyes shine