The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-17


in North Carolina is rolling tabeland OF
pine groves and thickets of laurel, where
the black bear delights to ramble in cas-
reach of his fastness about the crags OF
old grandfather. Now and then, Tempt
ed by some wandering calf or squealing
porker. he descends into the open valley,
whence, most like he will return with a
foblowing of hounds and hunter.
Once as l was riding UP THAT beautiful
road which gives access from the east
of this Wild hill country. l observed a
native who had mounted a great rock
hanging above the wayside, and was
gazing in the valley below.
"Jes' listen at them hounds was has
greeting as | came near.
/ drew rein and heard the questlng of
many hounds arising TO us III delightful
cadence. lit was a hot trail. The music
of the chase. now softened by some in
Heryeming hull, seemed to drift affair oil ;
Then. as if caught by the quickening
breeze. it Lifted and swelled to us in
flood of melody. My horse pricked HIS
ears and danced, and | felt a ting8ng
of my finger tips.
rs it bear or deer?" | asked of the
stranger, who stood yet, listening with
face aflush.
"They be headin' up" he answered
II low it's bar. If we-uns get out on
the Rock, we'll get to see 'em run
We pushed forward little, and soon
found ourselves upon~the extreme point
of shelving cliff. Here the mountain,
as Gf to signalze its startling turn,
thrust out a leaf OR granite THAT hung
above the valley like the outstretched
wing OF a great bird Out upon this we
clambered, and for moment | forgot
the hounds in gazing below in that Won
du,ous deTith of azure, out of which con-
finlrally wllirled forest leaves that rose
high above and poised glisttening specks,
I'm the clear still air.
This is Baowing6 Rock, SO called from
the gale which, born of the west wind,
blows in this eovixity of the mountain
The point is one OF the most beautiful
and roma IJfc in America.
Some turn of the trail now brought
up an increasing clamor of the dogs.
We had faced from the cliff for a mo-
ment, and were eagerly listening ait the
chase, when, with a great crashing of
shruIbbery, fufl-grown bear ran out into
the open, and for an instant stood there
confronting us. My horse plunged and
broke AWAY, and was likely to have jump
ed from the Rock. But the bear turned
with a srlcaf, sprang over the steep in
cline, and half-runnang, halfstumbhng,
disappeared in the shr1bbery below,
crashing like a loose boulder into the
dense tangled underground.
Another moment and the stream of dogs
came pouring N full cry over the ridge.
With barely a pause and a look at US
they turned at the dangerous cliff, caught
ed their leader to an easier slope, caught
UP the trail, and opened through the
shrubbery
From the Rock we could mark the
chase into the swayimg laurel, which
seemed to be in valley, far below, but
really was hugging the cliff high ON the
mountain side. Now and then glimpse
of the bears black body came to us from
the open ways. As / watched him
scurrying ike frightened pig / wonder
ed that fearful stories of bears should
be published.
A little mountain cabin stood across the
angle of the valley before us, close to the
edge of the cliff, under a wide-spreading
chestnut tree. Children came running
from it at the sounding chorus of dogs.
presently woman joined them, and all
crowded to edge Of the cliff to watch the
chase.
''The hounds done walked up my folks"
remarked the native beside me.
The bear had been running directly to
ward them, for he heard the dogs behind.
Suddenly | saw him struggling up the
steep incline and into a crowd of chill
dren. Then there was scattering and
clamor.
The mountaineer sprang at once to the
road, and / after him as best | could.
Now what did all tibet bar! Whoever
heard tell o. the like?' / could hear from
him, as ran painting after. AS we near.
ed the cabin / hear calls and screams ris-
ing above the barking of dogs and excited
cackling of fowls. / could distinguish the
shrill "Shoo, thar! shoe" Of a woman's
voice. When turn of the road brought
the scene of scommotion into view, score
of dogs were yelping about the tree which
stood near the cabin door, Children
danced frantically about the dogs, and
two urchins within the doorway Of the
cabin were bowling in dire fright.
A girl among the dogs urged them We
hemently, and screamed and beat the tree
with a broom whenever the bear, pant
ing in the boughs, made any movement to
descend.
When we joined the family, dogs, fowls
and all seemed intent on telling how it
happe1ed, capering, barking, cackling
Clip, bobtail eur, had driven the scared
bear to the tree, and Clip was now dash
ing about as one misunderstanding.
barking and wagging his stump Of tail
Historically. He had freed the bear, and
he wanted every body to know it.
On seeing US, the bear became restless.
began to descend cautiously, then paused
as if to count them en- and dogs below,
and estimate his chances Of success
should he drop for q dash into the laurel.
The dogs barked, the children screamed,
we threw stones. He came a little lower.
paused and seemed to count us all again
Then the quick witted girl, dipping n
measure of water from boiling pot
near by dashed it into his fur. He
scrambled back the rough bark coming
down from his claws in a shower. One