The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-08-01

after they'd both shot her behind the
shoulder, before I'd come up But. ?,
he grinnly added, she got my bullet
through her brain IN less than a min
ute aftersTard 1t was mighty dear
hunt to me, for besides the loss of
my partners I found, after bulying
them under a heap of stones, that a
big Brazilian diamond which I'd put
most all my wealth into was miss
ing
But, Sam, asked, what in the
worlds become of our bearg
Hes sneaked round through the
rocks to the north and gone in on
t'other side. Well have to do the
same, for cat couldn't get in here.
Its not more'n mile, reckon"
Sam, as usual proved to be right,
for while we were skirting the north
ern boundary of the grove we sew
eral times came upon the same old
gigantic footprints.
Turning to the left ton reaching the.
northwest corner Of the grove we
found close at hand wei defined
opening.
mo use bothering with that, "
carelessly said Tount, 1.-The cunning
brute's sure to have gone into the
far one, close to the ridge It's only
a couple Of hundred yards away.
And, boys, if you ever kept your eyes
skinned and your ears open, do it
now. That trails the one where my
poor chums passed in their checks"
Let me go in alone, Sam. don't
care cent for the grizzly. His
heads big mark Down in old Ohio
I've often barked a red squirrel in
the top of a tall hickory, and couldn't
miss him, = impulsively cried Charlie
Grant
The guide glanced pityingly at the
boy, but merely said, You'll be old
er bi1neby, Charlie, {" and relapsing
once more into dead silence we passed
the middle opening and entered the
mouth of that one nearest the ridge.
Twas a horrible place, strangely
dark, noisome and oppressively hot,
while all aboutwere strewn shapeless
masses of rock, interlaced and half
hidden by creeping vines, giant cac-
fuses, and poison ivy-a fit abode for
noxious reptiles and beasts. But it
was possible for two men to walk
abreast on the path, and distausting
Charles prudence, took my place
by Tount's side.
Amid an awful silence, we crept
slowly on, scanning each gloomy re-
cess and tangled brake with such care
as men whose lives were at stake
might well exercise The ground be
meath our feet, beaten into soft dust
by innumerable tracks, returned no
echo to our cautious footsteps, nor
was there breath of wind to bear
the scent of our bodies to any lurk-
ing creature.
Webad thus stolen along for nearly
quarter of mile, when my com
panion stopped, quietly nudged me
and stood intently gazing through a
sort of aisle In the matted vines at
something as yet unseen by me. But
presently, noting the direction of his
eyes, 1 saw lying ON fiat rock of
nearly identical color a yellowish
gray mass of fur.
Putting his mouth close to my ear.
Sam whispered: Its the big grizzly
He's fast asleep. That's his back we
see. His heads completely hidden.
We must get sight of it somehow.
While the old hunter stood consid-
ering hardly dared to breathe, and
1 could feel Grant close behind me
trembling with excitement.
Sans indecision lasted only a mo-
ment, however. Then he stopped,
picked up a small stone and deliber-
ately pitched it on top of the sleep
ing monster, not 80 feet from us.
Yawning and stretching himself, as
if disturbed by a fly, the brute slowly
rose, his tremendous bulk looming
up above the surrounding bushes.
but his head was yet invisible. Very
evidently he had not seen us and was
about to lie down again when Tount
gave low whistle. The effect was
instantaneous The bear stiffened
into an attitude of watchful atten-
ton, and raising his huge head sus-
piciously shifted the air.
Twas the last breath he ever drewi
Coolly, as if shooting at Fabbit,
Sam threw up his rifle and touched
the trigger. The heavy, pointed slug
struck squarely at the base of the
bears ear, and without sound he
sank shiveringly down, stone deadl
Then Charlie Grant went wild.
Whooping and yelling like Co
manche, he dashed through the
thicket, sprang upon the rock and
fairly danced on the carcass of our
prize.
The pelt, at no time very valuable,
was not at this season worth remov-
ing; so, after eating some lunch
brought with us, we began to retrace
our steps, Charlie, no longer restrain
ed of his freedom, prapcing on ahead.
Best be careful" cautioned
Tount as the boy lodged behind
rock, that's not the only bear
What's thatq' for.
overlapping the last word, came a
smothered cry and the sound of a fall.
Darting round the rock. we found
our young comrade lying senseiess7
on the ground and just beyond him
saw the retreating form of a half
grown grizzly No chance for a head
shot now, but with lightninglike
quickness we both fired at the center
of the animals back One lucky bull
let broke his spine, and with a hoarse,
gurgling grunt he fell helpless in his