The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1894-10-30

than you think. Besides the other,
fellows win want to know what'sup,
replied one of our men.
That's so,' assented Tount, and
we went back 10 the corral
After a hasty breakfast the same
six of us, all young men under 81 and
fully armed, left camp with the
guide, determined, if possible, to
avenge his loss and enjoy the fun (D
Of killing a grizzly, none Of the seven,
barring Sam Tount and myself, hav-
Ing ever had the chance of coming to
close quarters with that formidable
beast.
At the time / write of breechload-
ing guns had not come into general
use, but each oneof us carried good
muzzle loading rifle, a heavy Colts
revolver and the indispensable hunt
ing knife.
At once picking up the bears trail,
we followed it easily so long as it
kept TO grass or soil covered for
nation, but after that, when it en-
tered a rocky, mountainous region,
we had nothing to guide us except
the occasional displacement of loose
stone or perhaps the frayed edge of
a stunted shrub-no blood drops be-
ing now visible.
''The old villain has made straight
for his lair, likely in some deep can
yon," observed Tount after we had
gone up and down the broken ranges
for over mile.
By and by the trail came out upon
plateau of smooth, soilless rock,
and here we lost it. Our guide, how
ever, was an old bear hunter and
knew the country well.
We'll separate soon, boys he
said. IA little way to the west Of
this height there's two ugly, black
ravines. They lie end on to the pla-
teau and that numbering old thief
has gone into one of them, sure. -Four
of you best take the one to the left,
and I, with two men, will hunt that
to the right.
But, mind you've got no fool
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.
Nov, boys, impressively, don't
take any chances, Never turn a big
rock nor go into 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 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 its
western, steeply descending slope
the mouths of two wild looking can
yons, lying half mile apart and sep,
arated by a lofty ridge of rock.
Nov, who's coming with meg''
asked Sam.
Charlie Grant. young fellow of
10, and | ranged ourselves by his
side, and the two parties took diverg-
ing lines
When we three came to the brow
of the descent, overlooking the ravine
to the north, we saw at once that we
had chanced upon the right one, for
among the dwarfed bushes growing
on the slope was distinct trail,
down which the bear bad pnmistaka,
bbiiy scrambled with his prey. @
''Better call the other fellows over,
Topnt," I 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
grizzly bear or mountain lion sin
gle handed.
On clambering down to the ravine,
we found it to be a frightfully
gloomy place, encumbered by jagged
rocks and loose powders and every
where overgrown with aspen bushes,
thorns and briers, but along its bot
tom ran deeply indented, tortuous
path, evid entity trodden out by the
constant passing and repassing of
wild beasts
Restraining our impetuous young
friend by signs, we made our way
silently and with extreme caution