The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-09-28
A THANKSGIVING BEAR.
Night Hunt in a CanOe-Two Duck
ings and One Bear.

lie MONIES OF the l)uncanS ana ay-
lOrS were situated near th,. Little Red,
swift %IrcaIn that flowed through .
r.sribn Dut iltCle opened rs Vet and still
inhibited by the animals of the west.
lnGc2A. bear roamcd 1T will through
the dense canebralles. AMI not infrc-
qucntiy made reprisalS on the scattered
settlers. Wolves. too. aboundcd in the
rc~iot. and in winter their long dismal
ho"lin.c made the cold nights hiueOus.
The duncan and Taylor boys-Roy
and PM had been companions from
childhood. and when their parents set
tied II the new country they were in
their cl~lotnt. as they could roam the
woods or pa Idle down the Little Red,
every row and then picking up bear
or tur'leE with their trusty rifles.
1t wa, not long before they became
known as the best young Ainrods in
the whole district. and whenever they
started on (! hunt it was taken for
granted that they would return with a
wtll-:illai bag.
One Of their favOrite methods Of
baTg:ng wild game was by the fire.
hunt. and these adventures generally
took place on the river. They would
set mp :ncir torch in the canoe, and
w.lil1 pa,iiling up stream, or floating
with the current. would by its light
see the eye, of the bear or deer on
shore, and shot was pretty sure to
bring down the fascinated targets.
The NIGHT before Thanksgiving Phil
Taylor stroilcd over to the Duncan
homestead with a proposition almost
sure to fad favor with his young COM
panion. This was nothing less than d
fire hunt on the river for the purpose
of, Us Phil expressed it, ''bagging
Thanksgiving bear"
1--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 = least.
Taken with the prospect of some ex-
citing adventure, Roy at once acqui-
esced. and the two boys began to pre-
pare Tor the tire-hunt. The canoe was
dragged forth and the pine knots for
the torch gathered and made ready.
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 it were, until the unerr-
ing bullet of the hunter in the canoe
terminates their careers
The young hunters of the Little Rcd
waited with some impatience for night
fall, and when the hour came thew
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 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 DANCER
Gus on account of unseen rocks, over
which the water boiled like a 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
rhlI 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 neared the bend where they OK
pect2d to catch sight of a living target
fhli ami Roy increased their watch
iulnesS All at once the paddles in
10y 5 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 last.
The canoe had reached asquieter
place in the current and Roy had
brought it to anchor there.
Don't miss him." he said to Phil.
In all my life L never saw eyes shine
SO. | believe l 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 both boys leaned forward
with eagerness and looked toward the
shore.
You missed himr' cried Roy.
NO. Look yoEder. The old fellow
mas tumbied into the water and is in
the death struggle. Quick! Row to-
"ard MN before the eddy sucks him
in. We shall lose the bear if we are
not careful"
Roy needed no urging to force the
canoe throu n the water toward the
spot where ,'omething was splashine
among the rocks. and Phil. who had
reloaded, Was watching for anothe,
shot. as he sssw that the bear was des
perately wounded, though not yet qsite
conquered.
As the car oe neared the spot there
was sudden plunge on the part of the
animal, and the huge bulk vanished
for a moment.
Lost" exclaimed Roy.
Rsfore Phil could reply, something
dar-i and wet rose almost underneath