The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-08-13
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ACING A GRIZZLY.

a hoy A1Ala an Angry beur WIN u
Blow of an An.
1t was in September-and the Colo
RADIO sun had done its duty and made
Phil as brown of face and stout of
limb as any of us-that the geology
class, consisting of the professor and
ten pupils, made an excursion into the
range with the object of taking a prac-
teal lesson among the limestone beds
at the back of Lincoln Peak.
Away we went-feeling very hilar-
ious at the idea of making an indie
pendent expedition, even with Blink
ers for a Notwithstanding over
rocks and fallen trees, chasing squir-
rels and chipmunks, throwing stones
at birds and rabbits, and behaving
generally just like what we were-a
parcel Of school boys.
Presently we emerged from the trees
and came out upon another little open
park-like stretch of ground. Half way
across it our attention was suddenly
attracted by a stir among some high
grass, and out jumped a little, dark
colored, short-legged animal, which
looked like a woody pig-if there be
any such thing in nature.
Away it scuttled, and away we all
went. with a shout, in pursuit.
Phil happened to be some distance
behind at the moment, being busily
engaged in digging a tarantula's nest
out of the ground with his knife; but
as sOon as he saw what we were do
ing, he came racing after us. shouting,
Look out! Look out. It's "a"
We did not hear what, we were max
ing so much noise ourselves.
But the little animal, whatever it
was, was too quick for us and disap-
peared into some willows while we
were still twenty yards behind. The
next moment the willows waved and
bent and out bounced a great she bear
"a grizzly!
With a yell of dismay we all turned
and, scattering like a flock of sparrows
| when q cat jumps into the midst of
them, fed for the nearest trees. Blink
ers, quite forgetting that he was the
general of the little eXpeditionary
force, made such use of his long legs
that he was safely up a tree before
any of the rest of us had reached me
AS for me, l ever reached one at all.
In turning to run / tripped over the
ak, and though | was UP again in an
/ lISIdAt, Ihc ClcSh hIuuC lit IHC last
of the fugitives.
The chase was very soon over. In
| six jumps, as it seemed. the great
beast caught me, and, with one blow
of her paw on the middle of my back,
sent me, face downward, to the
ground, with every atom of breath
driven out of my body.
The last circumstances was a good
thing for me-; | could not have moved
a muscle if l had wished to. Conse-
quently the bear supposed that l was
dead, and instead of tearing me up
into small pieces, as I expected, the
began shifting me all over and turning
me about with her claws.
Suddenly, however, she ceased and
began to growl, and l heard Blinkers
up in his tree call out, go back! You
can't do any good. You'll only get
yourself killed, too" From which l
concluded that Blinkers and the bear
had one thought in common. they both
supposed me to be dead.
1 was beginning to recover my
breath a little by this time, and in my
anxiety to see what was going for
ward l made a slight movement with
n arm, and in an instant the bear
had that arm between her teeth. 1t
hurt me SO horribly that | tainted, and
all that happened afterwards | gather
ed from the other boys.
Phil, when he saw me knocked down
instead of climbing up a tree like the
rest, ran back to where | had dropped
the AK, and, picking it up, advanced
to my rescue.
1t was a mad thing to do, Their is no
doubt about that; but Phil did it-and
without a thought of his own danger.
1t was in vain hat Blinkers called to
him to go back; he did not seem to
hear, but kept coming on slowly, with
his eyes fixed on the bear, and the ak
held in readiness to strike.
The bear dropped my arm and ad.
vanced a step, standing across my
body. growing and turning up hel
lips until all her great white teeth
were exposed; but still Phil came on
At six feet distance he stopped. The
bear took a step forward, and then
another, and then, with all the strength
of his body doubled by the intense
excitement of the moment, Phil struck
at her with such force and precision
that he split her skull clean in two.
But, even in dying, the bear succeed.
ed in doing some mischief.
With a last cOnvulsive effort she
struck out, and, with her great claws
tore away the front of Pills coat, vest
and shirt, and made three deep cuts
all across his chest from the left shoul
der %diagonally downward. Another
inch and Phil must certainly have beer
killed. AS it was, he stood for q mo.
ment swaying to and fro, and then
fell forward upon the dead body of the
bear.-From "Grizzly Phil" by Sid.
ford +. Hamp, in st. Nicholas.