The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-12-26

ramrod In and give him that, when II
occurred 10 me that a ramrod might
some I'm handy II ever | wanted to
load again. In the meantime | had
climbed up the rocks, which we're big
and plenty here among the trees. and
was managing 10 keep myself fairly
safe. AS ! slipped into the last nlche
OF the rocks before had to take chanc-
rs and run across the open to clump
Of trees, my heavy "" tch chain caught
on something and almost tore Itself
out Of my buttonhole. II gave me
thought. though. aud IN a second |
had II loose and was ramming It down
the gun barrel. hundred dollars a
load was rather expensive. bur II was
my life against the watch chain. and
there were other watch chains. To
make the chances In my favor some
what better. dropped my link but
tons and a collar button into the other
barrel. They were not so heavy as
the chain. but the range was short
and ! was counting 10 do some valu-
able work In my behalf with that
watch chain, which weighed half "A
pound, a friend OF mine used 10 say
and looked ton. A the bear got
on the level with me and rose to EN-
brace me 10 his throbhlng bosom. |
tried 10 remember that my chance for
life lay In that gun barrel. and | must
be cool and collected and very brave.
and | guess ! must have remembered
II. but to save my neck ! conldn't be
steady. and as backed away 10 let
the bear 90 on by me II he wanted to-.
| stepped into n hole In the rock. the
gun went on. my beloved watch chain
went whizzlng out into the blue empy-
rean OF the Rocky Mountain heavens,
and the bear wnked and growled and
came right at me. The next shot he
got AT short range, and collar and cun
buttons were hanging In his hair, while
diamonds glstened like the mountain
dew as tumbed Off the edge OF the
rock and III on a ledge about six feet
below. Here | was safe for a minute
or two. AT least. and | stopped to think.
Thinking at such time Is thing a
man ought never neglect to do. The
bear, weighing about a ton, exclusive
OF the loads had put into him, was on
top OF the rock. chewing and splitting
like the mayor Of New York, and tear
ing around In a blinded rage for the
man with the gun and the jewelry sam
pies. while | was hanging on TO the
side Of that boulder with a gun in my
hands and nothing to load II with ex-
cept powder unless ! could think OF
something else Under these crcum-
stances thought Of what the last
charge was. and once more | went
through myself This time | got the
uncut diamond. marked down from
81 500; the diamond stud going below
cost. and an assortment OF small ar
tlclcs. such as scarf pins. studs. sus-
pender clasps, necktie plnches. and a
variety OF things that wouldn't go into
gun barrel without squeezing. These
| rammed down and waited, for
knew the beast would be coming as
soon as 1t got Its wits together.
"And 1t did. guess II must have
scented me. for with roar and a
bound Il came over the side and lit on
the rock beyond and Immediately pro.
cccded TO Join me on my small terri
tory. Now. | knew | was goner II
| didn't do something with the loads
In that gun. and as Mr.. Bear came
on the gun went OF. and there was a
howl went up that was terrifying. |
thought | had blown the bear clean
into kingdom come. but ! hadn't:
had merely blown his face full OF brio
a-hrac and small jewelry. and my hope
was that enough OF 1t had gone into
his eyes to blind him and give me a
chance to get away. lie was paving
his face and pulling at himself In great
shape rs | left the rock. and | hoped
| wouldn't be called on TO risk my
/ life further. but bears are animals OF
no sort Of courtesy and kindness. and
cleared up his line OF vision and was
after me again. Fortunately for me
rocks and trees were plenty, for after
had poured In my first load l was
much more agile than he and could
by extra effort keep out OF his way
though N he could have got me In the
open | wouldn't have had the chance
OF hummlng bird In hades. As
covered myself behind the next poini
o. rocks l thought again OF loading my
gun and wondered what there was IN
stock to load II with. l went through
my pockets and found only a bunch
OF Neys and a pocket knife. both too bis
to 20 In the gun. as was the silver dol
lar aud other change Neither coult
find a bit OF stone small enough ant
began to think OF climbing tire,
aud waiting FOR storm 10 come ant
blow me 10 town or something Xix,
that. for l didn't see much chance II
any other direction. when bethough
myself OF a heavy gold pencil studde,
with Jewels that my best girl had giveI
me- and must have cost hundre,
aud a half II II cost cent. 1t was II
my inside vest pocket and | went ate
u with a rush. | rammed Il down
and as l pulled out the ramrod II oc
Cured to me that that would be OF M
further use to me now. and Nigh
as well bang IL into the bear. too. so
showed II into the other barrel an'
waited for my enemy. He was a
game as you ever saw. and though
a..