The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-06-23
beast.

revolver and the indispensable hun
ing knife.
At once picking up the bears trai
we followed it easily so long as
kept to a grass or soil covered TO,
nation, but after that, when it e,
tered a rocky, mountainous regior
we had nothing to guide us exec
the occasional displacement of a loos
stone or perhaps the frayed edge q
a stunted shrub-no blood drops be
ing now visible.
1.-The old villain has made straigh
for his lair, likely in some deep can
yon," observed Tount after we ha,
gone up and down the broken range
for over a mile.
By and by the trail came out upol
a plateau of smooth, soilless rock
and here we lost it. Our guide, how
ever, was an old bear hunter an(
knew the country well.
We'll separate soon, boys" ht
said. "A little way to the west q
this height there's two ugly, blacl
ravines. They lie end on to the pla
teau and that numbering old thie1
has gone into one of them, sure Fou1
of you best take the one to the left
and l, with two men, will hunt thai
to the right.
"But, mind! you've got no foo
black bear to deal with. These old
grizzlies are cunning as satan him.
self. This ones a whopper, and
he'll likely see or scent or hear YOU
before you catch a sight of him.
Maybe he'll run they mostly do), and
then, again, maybe he won't. He's
chock full, blast him! and's Just as
apt to lie low till you run right on
him as to do anything else.
Now, boys" impressively, "don't
take any chances. Never turn a big
rock nor go into a patch of scrub
without having your eyes peeled and
your guns to the front, ready to fire.
and, above all, don't wound the brute.
Shoot to kill-square for the brain.
He'd NOW down the whole lot of us
with half a dozen holes in his heart
before he'd keel over.
IF you should be unlucky enough
to wound him at the first volley.
don't bulge an inch unless there's a
safe rock handy, but draw your re-
volvers and stand cool and steady till
he's within 10 feet. Then drive every
shot into his head"
By the time Sam had finished this.
for him, long speech, we had crossed
the plateau and could see beyond it's
western, steeply descending slope
the mouths of two wild looking can
yons, lying a half mile apart and sep
arated by a lofty ridge of rock.
Now, who's coming with me?"
asked Sam.
Charlie Grant, a young fellow of
10, and | ranged ourselves bv his
side, and the two parties took diverg-
ing lines.
When we three came to the brow
OF the descent, overlooking the ravine
the north, we saw at once that we
had CHANGED upon the right one, for
among the dwarfed bushes growing
on the slope was a distinct trail,
down which the bear had unmistaka-
bly, scrambled with his prey.
Better call the other fellows over.
l suggested in a whisper.
They'll want to see the fun"
They couldn't hear us even if it
would do to yell now, and .shooting's
out of the question" he answered in
the same low tone. Let them go on.
Like as not they'll run on to another
grizzly. The brutes are noways scarce
around here, (which last observa-
ton greatly delighted Charlie, who
IN his ignorance would have tackled
a grizzly bear or a mountain lion sin
gle handed.
On clambering down to the ravine,
we found it to be a frightfully
gloomy place, encountered by Jagged
rocks and loose powders and every
where overgrown with aspen bushes,
and briers, but along it's bot
a a deeply indented, tortuous
path, evidently trodden out by the
constant passing and repassing of
wild beasts.
Restraining u impetuous young
TREND by signs, we made our way
silently and with extreme caution
along this path, the guide, with his
lille so held as to be instantly avail
lble, taking the lead. We had gone,
however, scarce 300 yards, when he
suddenly stopped and with a beckon-
ng motion of one hand called us up.
On coming alongside, we saw on
IN open spot by a little spring the
lalf consumed remains of the unfor-
innate colt. Obviously its epicurean
had reserved his breakfast
Until he could enjoy with it a cool
ng drink! In all my experience I
lave never known, in any country,
Drawer and more hardy man than
sam Tount, but now, as he gazed
'uefully upon the mangled form at
us feet, two great tears rolled down
lis cheeks. Then the fierce battle
lght flashed nee more in his eyes,
nd he huskily whispered:
THAT cursed brute's eaten his fill
nd has gone off somewhere to sleep.
IL never give up this hunt till I've
him lying dead"
Now, one by one, while the others
God guard, we knelt by the spring