The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-07-19
A THANKSGIVING BEAR.
Night Hunt in Canoe-Two Duck
ings and One Bear.

L =
Tors were situated near the Little Red,
swift stream that flowed through a
region but little opened as yet and still
inhabited by the animals of the west
Indeed, bear roamed at will through
the dense canebrakeS, and not infre-
quently made reprisals on the scattered
settlers. Wolves, too. abounded in the
region, and in winter their long dismal
bowling made the cold nights hideous.
The Duncan and Taylor boys-Roy
and Phil-had been companions from
childhood, and when their parents set
tied in the new country they were in
their element, as they could roam the
woods or paddle down the Little Red,
every now and then picking up bear
or turkey with their trusty rifles
1t was not long before they became
known as the best young Nimrods in
the whole district, and whenever they
started on hunt it was taken for
granted that they would return with
well-flied bag.
One of their favorite methods of
bagging wild game was by the fire
hunt, and these adventures generally
took place on the river. They would
set up their torch in the canoe. and
while padding up stream, or floating
with the current, would by its light
see the eyes of the bear or deer on
shore, and shot was pretty sure to
bring down the fascinated targets.
The night before Thanksgiving Phil
Taylor strolled over to the Duncan
homestead with a proposition almost
sure to find favor with his young com
panion. This was nothing less than a
fire hunt on the river for the purpose
of, as Phil expressed it, dragging a
Thanksgiving bear"
1--WE can float past the big brakes
near the bend said he, as he laid his
proposition before Roy. Tom Hum
ter, who came through there the other
day, saw lots of fresh signs, and we
may be able to get big one for to-
morrow's feast"
Taken with the prospect of some ex-
citing adventure, Roy at once acqui-
esced, and the two boys began to pre-
pare 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 fierce glare for
many rods over the water, and animals
will come to the shore and gaze at it,
fascinated, as ii were, until the unerr-
ing bullet of the hunter in the canoe
terminates their careers.
The young hunters of the Little Red
waited with some impatience for night
fall, and when the hour came they
launched their canoe and sprang into
it. The torch had been placed in the
stern of the boat, and Phil, who was to
have the first shot, took his seat under
meath it, in such a position that the
light, streaming over him and from
behind, would throw its radiance along
the shore, thus revealing the cleaning
eyes of wolf or bear, but without the
glare dazzling his own eyes.
In some places the river was danger
Gus on account of unseen rocks, over
which the water boiled like caul-
dron, while in others canoeing was per-
fectly safe; but the boys knew the
stream well and had padded it on
many occasions after dark. Taking
the paddles Roy, with a sharp lookout
along the shore, drove the light bark
into the middle of the river, while
Phil under the torch watched the tall
canoes 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 ne; red the bend where they ex-
pected to catch sight of living target
Phil and Roy increased their watch
fulness. All at once the paddles in
Roy's supple hands seemed to rest, and
he glanced at his companion. Phil at
the same moment had seen what had
caught Roy's eye.
On the right, where the tall canes
seemed to seek the solitude of the
stars, CLEANED pair of intense eyes,
very close together, and near the
ground.
1T is old Ephraim," whispered Phil,
as he moved his rifle and leaned for
ward for a better look I'VE have
found our Thanksgiving bear at lastn'
The canoe had reached quieter
place in the current and Roy had
brought it to anchor there.
Don't miss him." he said to Phil.
''In all my life | never saw eyes shine
so. | believe | can make out the out
lines of the bears head"
Slowly, with cool hunters deliber-
alton, Phil lifted the rifle to his shout
der, and while he watched the shining
eyes. Roy seemed to hold his breath.
The crack of the weapon awoke the
echoes along the shore, and as the
smoke lifted Doth boys leaned forward
with eagerness and looked toward the
shore.
You missed himr' cried Roy.
mo. Look yopder! The old fellow
has tumbled into the water and is in
the death struggle. Quick! Row to-
ward him before the eddy sucks him