The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-04-30
miscellaneous.
A BEAR STORY.

pleasantest of places in the depth OF
winter. That is, however, 1.-THE time
when it presents the most attractions
to those who visit it, for the cold drives
the animals from their hiding places,
and the difficulty 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 seat
ed around campfire one night few
years ago. They had a blaze big
enough to attract all the animals of
the forest, for it was bitterly cold and
fuel cost nothing.
Il saw bear trace, today" said Cop
pee, a French Canadian. Il shall
hunt him tomorrow.
YOU'RE always seeing tracks" said
Martin. a burly Englishman, 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 retorted with more than words.
But he was a good-natured little fell
low, and could make allowance for
Martins want of amiability.
IL shall try and find this one," was
his reply.
His eyes twinkled with joyful anti
cipation, for he had discovered the
home OF the bear-a discovery which
he meant to keep secret.
'Iou can't go tomorrow. Coppee, :"
f ut in Hopkins, an American. You re
to go to the cache. Nhe agent will be
along soon"
"Ah, so l have!" replied Coppee,
dolorously. Never mind; my bear
will keep for a day or two"
where's his den ?'' inquired Mar
tin, carelessly.
"Ah, wouldn't you like to know 2"
was Coppee's evasive reply. No,
my friend, l mean to pay my morning
call by myself"
That bear will live lonely life,
then-that's all can say" answered
Martin, rising to throw more pine
knots on the fire.
I'VE shall see" said Coppee "Only
don't expect a paw all to yourself
when l bring the skin home"
I'll eat the skin when you bring
it,, responded Martin, laughing.
Coppee made no reply, but his face
showed the determination to carry out
his intention of killing Bruin.
Soon after all the trappers rolled
themselves in their blankets and drop
ped off to sleep.
They woke early. The fire still
smouldered. They made a hunters
breakfast, and each prepared to go in
his own direction.
Where are you off to, Martini" ask
ed Hopkins.
up the ravine l shall be back
early 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 v
was Martins remark. as he shouldered
his gun and strobe off.
Coppee gave one of his lighthearted
| laughs, and started in the opposite di-
rection.
He's angry because he did not find
the tracks himself" he thought.
Poor Martin he has had bad luck
this season. So have ! though, till
now; but when l get a shot at this
bear l shan't complain"
He walked rapidly along, for he had
a long journey before him. The
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 Cop
pee had to make preliminary inspec
ton of the cache.
He was about four miles from the
camp, swinging along with hunters
stride, when he stopped as if he had
been shot A minute after he was re
tracing his steps at long trot. An
unwelcome thought had struck him
Martin had said that he was going
to the ravine. Coppee knew thai
the ravine" meant a certain gorge
between some rocky hills, part o
the district which Martin rarely visit
ed. 1t was to this very ravine that ht
had tracked the bear on the previou
day.
By this time it was quite possible
that Martin had come across the
tracks, and, forsaking his traps haC
set off to trace where they led. If so
he would never rest content till h,
had killed the bear. And that beal
fairly belonged to him, Coppee.
That would never do. How coul(
he endure the chaff of the camp afte
his TRADE of the previous evening
No; he was resolved that come wha
might he would be first on the spot
and not leave to Martin the chance o
killing the largest bear he had seer
signs of during the whole season.
So the little Frenchman plowed hi:
way along, taking a short cut through
the woods What was it made hin
pause for moment and then redoubl,
his pace?
1t was this. He remembered sud
denly that all the tracks leading t.
the bears cave were on the side of tn,
ravine farthest from the camp. HI
had come across them on his way
home, but Martin, entering the ravin,
from the other end, would see nothing
to raise his suspicious till he reached
the cave. The bear would have scent
ed him long before, and the terribl
fear which crossed Coppee's mind wa
that Martin would be attacked un
wares. Such an unequal contest coulC
have but one result.
Coppee forgot all about his own de
. sire to kill the bear; his one hope nov
was that Martin might have succeed
ed indoing so. Never had he run so fas
in his life. He pelted over the snow
choosing, where possible, the groun'
sheltered from the drift.
1t seemed an age before the ravin
: was reached. He leaped from rock t
rock with more agility than prudence
One more turn, and he would be i