The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21

ems the pulses. My knees were pounded
by the sack of provisions, and my saddle
bags were no promoters of a comfortable
seat; but l gave my horses the spur for
quick squirt up the final climb and
reached the cabin to a ringing accompa-
nlment of bays, barks and yelps, the
hoarse note of the horn, less musical now
when nearby, and Cy'S yell of anticipa-
ton of delights yet to come.
1t was sincerely TO be hoped that the
trail was a hot one" 1t also behooved u.s.
as Cy put it, ter keep a eye OUT in case
it proved a very hot one and the bear
turned in our direction. We were soon as
sured that the trail possessed the requi-
site temperature, fer the bay of the hounds
became centralized, so to speak Something
was evidently freed or cornered, and
quick rush gave us sight of it.
At the foot OF a little cliff which walled
him in on two sides was bundle of black
fur, with fangs and red tongue at one
end of it. In front of him was a kaleido-
scopic effect of .yelping dogs. They had"
him, but he also rather had them
There was no way to get behind him. and
past experience had taught some of the
dogs that bears paw has rough stroke.
An occasional dash of one or another of
the dogs showed the strength of the temp
tation to close IN, but better judgment
prevailed and they took 1t out in barking
at him as he stood at bay with head
full alert, ready for a break if he saw an
opportunity. A black bear will run if he
can. and only fight when he must.
For the sake of my story, regret very
much that this particularly bear should
not have enabled me to thrill my readers
with a blood-curdling tale of close quar-
tiers, mangled limbs and dead dogs. But
the fact is, that as we came up and saw
how things stood, Cy simply said, He's
be stiddy, an then drop him" l had
so. and gave him three quick shots from
my repeater. All three settled in suitable
places around the left shoulder OF the
bear in the world. Really, that was all
there was to it. 1t was very inglorious.
Perhaps 1t was because 1t was my first
bear. am fully aware that 1t is GUS
tomary in tales of a ar fight" to come
to death-grips, armed only with a blade
less tackknife, or else to face a raging
bear when bullets are gone, and the hum
ter's life depends upon his using, in place
of bullets, the few pennies or shingle nails
which he finds in his pockets. In this case
these elements were lacking, and can
only apologize for their absence. The
wind-up was as commonplace as the
shooting of a Woodchuck. We removed
the gentlemans black oVercoat, cut away
the best portions of the meat for our own
consumption, gave the dogs a hearty meal,
and returned TO camp
CIV wanted TO do the trick again the
next day, and thought we might get more
fun out of another one. ! demurred l
had killed a bear, though the process had
bordered a bit on the prosaic. I had en-
joyed all the fun of this kind which
really needed, and there is no shadow of
doubt that tramping those mountains
bears a close resemblance to hard labor.
But Cy begged so hard and urged so
strongly that we had not had any real
FUN that / gave in and consented TO
take another dose of that form of hilarity
The definition of the word fun" de-
ponds altogether upon the individual view
of different forms Of experience. Before
the next day was over, | was led to be-
lieve that there were shades of difference
between Cys view and my own. The en-
tertainment began az about O'Clock a.
m. The overture consisted of a four-mile
tramp down the valley, then across the
ridge and up another valley which took
us back by a nearly parallel course to-
ward our starting point. Allowing for all
distance covered. the overture consisted
OF some ten miles of right hard work
from my point of view. stu, confess to
the interest OF It, the excitement which
lies In possibility There is. too. q con-
tagion in the eagerness of the hounds.
The hand clutches the rifle, the body
bends slightly forward, the eye glances
searchingly. about, and the mind Is alert.
one cannot help getting up at least
moderate degree of enthusiasm.
A little before noon We found hear-sign,
and threw ourselves down in sunny spot
for brief rest while we sent the dogs
on a little exploring trip. Ten minutes
or more passed, ana then we heard, away
up on the hillside, the deep "Aho-o-o, ah-
o-O-or OF one Of the hounds, answered
by the scattered replies OF the rest OF the
pack. IN be doggoned eff thcy hain't
found him." said Cy, as he sprang to his
feet Fortunately for us, they had found
him on the ridge which we should have to
cross in order TO reach our camp and
bruin was apparently headed for the val
| ley IN which our camp was located, but
higher up the stream.
dying sinner would not have given n
| button for all the breath / had left fifteen
minutes after we started. l presume IL
was perhaps forty minutes, but il seemed
! forty hours, before We crossed the divide
not far from the track of the bear and
| the pursuing dogs. Listening intently. we
| could hear an occasional yelp from far up
tha valley. and We plunged on. Az we