Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-04-22
Saint Narg's Beacon.
A BEAR STORY.

OF winter. That lss however, the
time when it presents the most at
fractions to these who visit it, for
the cold drives the animals from
their hiding places, and the diff
Guilty Of finding anything TO eat
makes them bold in the pursuit OF
food, even to the extent of snatch
ing it from the jaws Of trap.
A small body of trappers were
seated around campfire one night
a few years ago. They had q blaze
big enough to attract oil the ami
mails Of the forest, for ID was bitter
ly cold and fuel cost nothing.
Il saw bear trace, today" said
Coppee, a French Canadian. 81
shall hunt him tomorrow
"You're always seeing tracks, y
said Martin, burly EHglishman,
''but you never seem to come up
with the bear. Foxes are more in
your line"
Coppee looked as If he would like
to- have rctorted with more than
words. But he was q good -natured
little fellow, aud could make nj.
lowance for Martins want of anna
bility.
81 shall try and find this one, y
was bis reply.
His eyes twinkled with joyful an
ticipation, for he had discovered the
home of the bear--a discovery which
he meant to keep secret.
"You can't go tomorrow, Cop
pee" put in Hopkins, an Ameri-
can. you're to go to the cache.
The agent will be along soon."
"Ah, so | have r. replied Cop
pee, dolorously. "Never mind: nv
y
bear will keep for day or two"
Where's his den ?" inquired
Martin, carelessly.
"Ah, wouldn't you like to know"
was Coppee's evasive reply. ono,
my friend, mean to pay my morn
ing call by myself"
"That bear will live lonely life,
then-that's all / can say" an
swercd Martin, rising to throw more
pine knets on the fire.
"We shall see," said Coppee.
"Only don't expect a paw all to
yourself when ! bring the skin
home"
"l'll eat the skin when you bring
it," responded Martin. laughing.
Coppce made no reply, but his
face showed the determination to
carry ont his intention of killing
! Bruin.
Soon after all the trappers rolled
themselves in their blankets and
dropped off to sleep.
They woke early. The fire still
smouldered. They made a hunt
er's breakfast, and each prepared
30 go in his own direction.
"Where are you off, Martin ::'
asked Hopkins.
Cup the ravine. | shall be back
carly today. Look out for the bear,
Coppee.'
Il shall not call on him TODAY:
I'm off for the cache
"Well, it's all the same for the
bear" was Martins remark, as he
shouldered his gun and strobe of.
Coppee gave one of his light
hearted laughs, and started in the
opposite direction.
"Ie's angry because he did not
find the tracks himself, /" he thought.
'tPoor Martin he has had bad luck
this season. So have though, till
now; but when ! get a shot at this
bear ! shan't complain"
lie walked rapidly along, for he
had long journey before him.
The s'cache'' he was about to visit
was a hole beside a tree, carefully
boarded up and covered over. In
this were hidden the skins of the
animals they had captured.
At stated times the company's
agent came along and took them
away. One of his visits was nearly
due, and Coppee had to make pre-
liminary inspection of the cache.
lie was about four miles from the
camp, swinging along with hunt
er's stride, when he stopped as if
ne had been shot. A minute after
he was retracing his steps at a long
trot. An unwelcome thought had
struck him.
Martin had said that he was GO
ing to the ravine. Coppee knew
shat "thc rayine" meant a certain
gorge between some rocky hills,