The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-10
A THANKSGIVING BEAR.
Night Hunt In a. .Canoe-Two Duck
ings and One Bear.

Night Hunt in a CanOe-Two Duck
ings and One Bear.
The homes of the Duncans and TaF-
lors were situated near the Little Red.
a sEifS stream that flowed through a
region but little opened as yet and still
Inha bited by the animals of the west
Indeed, bear roamed at will through
the dense cane brakes, and not infre-
snentiy made reprisals on the scattered
settlers Wolves, too. abouudcI in the
region. and in winter their iong dismal
bowling made the cold nights hidepus-
The Duncan and Taylor boys Roy
And Phil had been companions from
s4hildhood. and when their parents set
uitsd in the new country they were in
slRt1tr element, they could roam the
w7GEods, or paddle down the Little Red.
every now and then picking up a bear
or nbrkey with their trusty rifles
twas not long before they became
known as the best young NimrOdS in
the whole district, and whenever they
started a hunt IL was taken for
granted that they would return with a
well filled bag
One Of their faJsrite methods of
bagging wild game vas by the fire
hunt, and these adventures generally
set up their torch il. the canoe. and
while padding up stream. Or floating
with the current, sould by It, 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 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. a. Phil expressed IL. '-bagging a
Thanksgiving bear
We can float past the big brakes
near the bend" said he. as he laid his
proposition before Roy Pom Hum
-.er, who came through there 4he other
lay, saw lots of fresh signs. and We
nay toe able to get big one for to-
morrow least.
Taken with the prospect of some sx-
sitting adventure, Roy at once acqui-
-esceil. and the two boys began to pre-
pare for the tire-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 a fierce glare for
iInany rods over the water. and animals
ysvill come to the shore and gaze at it,
Fascinated. as il 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 impatienee fDs night
fall. and when the hour came they
ilaune.ed their canoe and spraBg into
lit IT, torch had been placed ia the
stern 5fL-he boat and Phil. who was To
have the r,-st shot, took his seat under
- hot ~
light, stge.sgIing over him and from
behind. would brow its radiance along
the shoret ttGss eyealing the cleaning
eyes Of wo.f ~ abear, but without the
glare dazzling! hSs.own eyes
In some places, she river was danger
,asIs on acc,5Int Of unseen rocks. over
,Nhich the water boiled like caul-
,tiron, while in .nthaEs,canoeing was per
Itsctly safe; bsst tue boys knew the
stream well aaa had padded it on
gDnany occasions after dark Taking
the paddles Roy, with q sharp lookout
along the shore, saaoNe the light bark
into the middle of the river. while
Phil under the torch y a1eAed the tall
,canoes that lined the edge and tried
Ito catch the first sight of game
The night was calmly beautiful. ans
tthe paddles made no noise in the water
tthey neared the bend where they eN-
lpected To catch sight of a living target
Rhil and Roy increased their watch
ffulness. All at once the paddles IN
IRoys supple hands seemed 10 rest. aud
lfse glanced at his eeompass ion Phil at
ttie same moment sIad seen what had
ecasIght Roy's eye \
ten the right. where the gall canes
ss,tGned To- seek the solitudt. Of the
sstaEs, cleaned pair of intense eyes,
very close together, and near the
,gronaad.
-''Itis old Ephraim.~ whispered PSil,
;as he moved his rifle and leaned for
ward for a better look. We have
rfound.nIr Thanksgiving bear At lsSt,
The canoe had reached a quieteI
place IL the current and Roy had
brought il TO anchor there.
Don't mss him" he said To Phil.
In all myiilfe / never saw eyes shine
So ! believe | can make out the out
. lines of the hears head"
. Slowly with a cool hunters deliber-
/ alton, Phil lifted the rifle to his shoul-
/ der, and while be watched the shining
eyes. Roy seemed TO hold his breath
I The crack of the weapon awoke the
echoes along the shore. and the
II smoke lifted Doth boys leaned forward
with eagerness and looked toward the
shore.
You missed him. cried Roy.
NO. Look yoEder, The old fellow
has tumbled into the water and il in
the death struggle Quick, Row 10
ward him before the eddy sucks him
| in We shall lose the bear if we AR
| not careful
Roy needed urging to force th'
canoe through the water toward tn
| spot where something WAS splashinE
among the rocks. and Phil. who has
| reloaded. MAS Satching for anotbe
shot. as h- SAW that the bear was des
\ peratels wounded, thong h not yet quit
1 conquered