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

of the clumsy little black bears still to be
found in considerable numbers back
among the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky
mountains. 1t was rather too much like
hard work. confess to a lively enjoyment
of the cry of the hounds, and of all the
sights and sounds of woodland life. like
1t all when l get into it; but the anticipa
ticn and preparation bore me. But Rick
etts had given me a good time on a wild
turkey hunt, a few weeks before and l
consented to go, on the prospect of an
other.
Such events in that region require to be
talked over quite a little. Having decided
to GO l saw nothing TO do but to get ready
and GO But Cy had to see this man about
some more dogs, and that man about
something else, and to learn If any one
within forty miles had seen any bear
tracks. and 1 don't know what else. Final
ly received word from Cy, one Saturday,
TO be at his house by noon on the follow
ing Monday.
II was a rough place-only a typical
mountain cabin filled with dogs, children,
and cordial welcome, Cy's preparations
rifle stood by the door with powder-hor
and bullet-pouch, coffee-pot and frying
pan, beside it. After mountain dinner,
the procession started. 1t consisted Of Cy
and myself Cy's two boys, Zeb to help
tote" and Tom to look after the dogs, and
eight dogs for Tom to look after; Three of
bar dogs They are strongly built
beasts of the hound species, seemingly
with a touch of bulldog in them. Three or
four miles up the valley brought us TO
sunset and a camping ground and all
hands turned in to build shelter of hem
lock boughs.
the ground beneath our little shelter
closely paved with men, boys and dogs.
With eight dogs for restless bedfelloWs,
there is little danger of oversleeping, and
the sun was Just beginning to use pink
paint-brush on the hill-tops the next
morning, when / picked up my rifle and
tramp. We left the boys behind, much
against their will, TO keep house. But
bear fight is not always good place for
We pushed our way up the valley, while
the dogs ranged the hills for a scent. Oc-
casionally Cy would call them in to see
that none went aStray. We put in a long
and very hard day of 1t, with nothing for
our guns except a few gray squirrels
which came in admirably Tor supper.
That night we let the boys take the guns
and a couple of dogs to so a coon hunt.
They struck very good luck for at some
unearthy hour in the night was awak-
ened by the barking of the dogs. l rolled
over to see the boys with two 'coons and
three 'possums. / shouted my congratu-
lations and went to sleep again.
The next morning we started out again.
We climbed a mountain, crossed a gap,
and went down into another valley. This
place was Cy's chief hope. The hunt OF
ties. Here was introduced the more in
teresting element of probability and Cy
gave my legs about all they wanted TO do.
As we were taking siesta after our mid
day lunch by the side of tumbling
brook, there came a bay from the hill
side across the valley. II was quickly
They've struck su'thln'," said Cy.
Holt on a minnit an les see which-a-
way Their a-maSin'."
The cry soon gave us the direction, and
we were off Cy lowed" the bear was
headed for a certain rhododendron thick
ct, and 1t was to be hoped that the dogs
might turn him before he reached IL, as.
once there, pursuit was hopeless. The
voices of the dogs gave Us the line OF the
| chase, which we were evidently approach
| ing at fairly obtuse angle. one or two
/ Of the best runners were evidently well
I'm the lead with the rest struggling along
at good pace, in fun cry.
"Ol ben's a-leadin EN-, an ef the trail $
/ a hot one, he'll ketch him an turn him, 3"
/ was in the saddle that day I'm ample
/ season for a siX-mile ride, at a walking
| peco, over the toughest kind OF rough
up in the hills. My saddle bags were
I stuffed with things desirable for comfort
/ ana refreshment. Heavy blanket and
| macintosh were strapped to the cantle.
/ sack OF provisions and my. rifle lay
| across my knees. / like all the comforts
| and conveniences possible, even on bear
| hunt.
came In sight of Cys eyry when still
/ half mile or more away from it. They
| had evidently been watching for me, for
place there rolled down the hillside
| through the clear December air, the note
| of the horn used as "A call for the dogs
| This was answered by the deep, rich bay
OF the hounds mingled with the yelpine
| ana barking Of the other dogs. All thai
| combination, under such circumstances
1 nhliRato that stirs the blood and auiek.