The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-06-20
BEAR HUNT.

On ay flrst overland journey to
Cali mia, in 1851, we made camp
one cning among the foothills on
the 1theastern slope of Book noun
tain.
As 20 Indians had troubled us nor
'.sign been seen for the preceding
SIX lys, we somewhat relaxed our
accus omed vigilance on this occa-
sion. The 10 wagons were cor7IIled
as usual, but instead of being confined
within the inclosure after nightfall
our horses and mules were merely
hobbled and allowed to Craze at will
on the rich buffalo grass of little
valley lying between two adjacent
hills.
Among the stock was valuable
thoroughbred mare, belonging to
Sam Tornt, our guide. During the
journey this animal had brought
forth foal, a lovely little thing, now
2 weeks old, the especial pride of its
owner and the pet of the whole par
ty- ~ the youngsters sire was a
famous Kentucky racer, Sam set
great store by it and would not have
parted with it for its weight in
well, perhaps not gold, but certainly
in silver.
The colt of course was not shackled
in any way, and when last seen was
playfully gamboling about its moth
er as she fed.
In order to reach this particular
camping place we had that day made
an exceptionally long march, and ev-
cry man of us was unusually tired.
So, believing that no danger of any
kind threatened, we did not post SEN
tries at all, but retired early to our
wagon beds for a good sleep.
The night passed quietly, and moth
ing occurred to disturb our slumbers
until just at dayIFeak in the morn
ing. Then all were suddenly awak-
ened by a confused, thunderous
trampling, blended with the noise of
clashing metal.
Indians, Indians !" some one shout
ed, as, grasping our ready weapons,
we tumbled out to the ground.
Indians nothingr' said The guide.
'.If twas, you'd never've had a chance
to say SO. The reds don't centrally
wake folks up that way. Why, thun-
der alive, boys, it's a stampede of the
cattlel See them comer'
Sure enough. In the gray light of
the dawn we now saw, only few
yards from the corral, the whole
drove of horses and mules Gathering
painfully along, apparently in fran
tic efforts to escape some impending
peril. A perfect picture of terrified
rage, Tount's mare led the van, but
the precious colt was nowhere to be
seen.
Here, Flora, herel What's the
matter, old girl7' soothingly called
Sam, stepping out of the inclosure.
In response, to the well known
voice, the beautiful creature limped
up to her masters side, and distress
fully whinnying rubbed her nose
against his cheek, while her great,
frightened eyes seemed, plainly as ar
ticulate speech, to appeal for help.
"Boysl' excitedly shouted Sam,
Something's happened to the colt
Come along, half a dozen of you,
quickl The others must sttok b tke
corral, for it's just possible the cattle
may have scented Indians"
and five others, who happened to
be fully dressed, instantly started off
with our leader, hoping to find that
the foal had merely been left behind
by the herd, scared perhaps by a
prowling wolf or two. The little
dell where the stock had been feed
ing was about 400 yards from camp
On arriving there, we could at first
see no signs of the colt, but present
ly, as the light broadened into day,
Tount, who was securing the outer
edge of the valley, uttered a startled
cry.
Hurrying up to him, we saw a
small pool of blood on spot of grass
less ground, in the shade of a great
bow1der, and right in the middle of
the patch so moistened the enormous
footprints of bearl
My little beauty's gone, boys
killed and carried off by a grizzly, :"
moaned Sam. "See where the brute's
dragged it away to the hills"
There could be no doubt of the fact,
for broad trail of crushed grass,
fecked by occasional spots of blood,
led directly toward the mountain,
though in some places the powerful
monster had evidently borne his prey
clear of the ground altogether.
Sam was furious. Boys, we'll kill
that old devil if we have to stay here
week, F" he savagely said, "but I
guess we can do it this afternoon.
You can see by the looks of the blood
that he's not been gone long. What
do you say, shall we go on now or re-
turn to camp and get breakfast first7"
Best take square meal to begin
Eon, behind which the sun had dis
appeared.
Hurriedly our friends mounted,
but soon the darkness increased and
threatened to make the return i'm
possible The boy, however, feeling
quite comfortable after an unusually
good repast, showed great confidence.
Every few minutes he would stretch
out his hands like signboard, cry
ing, "Girgenti" The two travellers
had lost all faith in him. They only
trusted their eyes, which could dis
cern nothing but painless, stony
ground with little vegetation. They
would not have ventured to proceed
with the journey had not the horse
4 r T-EL L.. L.