The Bossier banner., 1894-08-23
A THANKSGIVING BEAR.
Night Hunt in a Canoo-Two Duck
ings and One Bear.

ings and One Bear.
The homes Of the Duncans and Tay-
lors were situated near the Little Red,
swift stream that flowed through
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-flled 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 a 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
fire hunt on the river for the purpose
OF, as Phil expressed it, ''bagging a
Thanksgiving bear"
We can float past the big brakes
near the bend" said he. as he laid his
proposition before Roy Tom Hun
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 efirehunt. The canoe was
dragged forth and the pine knots for
the torch gathered and made ready
torch of pine knots, if fashioned
properly, viii 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 uncrr-
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
nave the first shot, took his seat under
meath it, in such 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 Il caul-
afon, while in others canoeing was per-
1eetiy safe; but the boys knew the
stream well and had padded it on
many occasions after dark. Taking
the paddles Roy, with sharp lookout
aiong the shore, drove the light bark
INTO the middle of the river, while
mi under the torch watched the tall
canoes that lined the edge and tried
70 catch the first sight of game.
The night was calmly beautiful, a2d
the paddles made nonoisei in the water
as the canoe swept down stream As
.ney neareo the bend where they ex-
peeted to catch sight of living target
MI and Roy increased their watch
lulness. All at once the paddles in
hoy's supple hands seemed to rest, and
he glanced at his companion. Phil at
'he same moment had seen what had
caught Roy's eye
on the right, where the tall canes
seemed to seek the solitude of the
s'ars' CLEANED pair of intense eyes,
very close together, and near the
ground.
~ Is old Ephraim, " whispered Phil,
= ne moved his rifle and leaned for
waro for a better look. I'VE have
ioano u, our Thanksgiving bear at lastr'
ne canoe had reached quieter
p.ace IN the current and Roy had
osoaght it TO anchor there.
pont miss him. he said to Phil,