The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-29

moment the opportunity may come for
you to cover yourself with glory. Is
pecially Is this true when you are
camping in a country infested by bears.
Everything went well at the little camp
until Wednesday night. when an ad-
venture befel the party. the bare recital
Of which sends cold shivers up and
down the spinal column OF the listener.
Away along in the middle OF the night
the party was awakened by something
rummaging among the camp kettles and
pans on the outside OF the ten and
this noise was accompanied by shifts
and grunts and heavy breathing. Then
there was CONSERVATION I'm the tent
"A bear, a beari' was whispered by
one and then another. and then the
little ones were gathered together in
the darkness and they were told not to
cry. for Il might attract the bear to
them. But they did cry. ard so did
their mothers n their grandmother,
and with scared faces and bated breath
they waited while the noise outside con-
tinued. MIR. Clingan cautiously raised
the tent flap and poeped out. but he
dropped II again quickly and whispered
that the bear was sitting on his
launches. reaching for the lea grouse
which they had placed, TO keep cool, in
the spring seat on the big wagon.
Then they waited while the grunts and
III nfdNN bAtoAAAAAAH ~
there was a crunchinG noise, that to
the scared party in the tent. sounded
like the crushing of chicken bones.
DO you think the chickens will sat
isfy II and hat II win go away?" came
In a fearful whisper from Mr.. Ken
nedy's wife.
II fear II will only whet It's appetite"
cal me despairingly from another.
Again they waited. The suspense
was terrible. Mr.. Clinran peeped out
asain. "Shooi shoot go away, bear; go
away" he shouted threateningly. but
with a tremble In his voice. The rave
nous animal could not see 1t that way,
however, and very soon II was realized
the hungry monster was coming near
er TO the tent. Then there were
screams and cries. and Mr.. Kennedy
realizing that something must be done,
groped in the gloom for the shotgun.
slipped a shell into each barrel,
pushed the gun through the Q
opening. took a hasty aim at the sha-
dovy outline OF the brute. which was
dimly visible IN tho darkness. and with
a courage born OF despair fired hoth
barrels plurnp into rs side. There was
a below of pain and rage. and he
animal went crashing away
through the timber
throughout the long hours, with many
a whispered consultation "a to what ac-
fIon they must take should the bear
return. the party waited until the reas-
surfing streaks Of dawn came stealing
into the tent, when they settled down
10 secure their m~uch-needed sleep.
About 2 O'Clock they were ny
old Mr.. MCGEE. who had come over
presumably to make Il friendly call. He
remarked that they were sleeping very
late. and that TO secure the full benelt
of the glorious mountain air they
should be up at break Of lay. MI.
CIingan then explained to him that
their sIumbers had been sadly dis
turbed during the night. He told Mr..
McGee that a bear had visited their
camp about the midnight hour. badly
frightening them: hat they had shot
and wounded the big bruir, and that
Il had gone away and ala not come
back. and that he thought perhaps u
had been injured unto death.
THAT bear" remarked Mr.. MCGEE,
was my old pet milk COW. and there
is a hole in her hip this morning big
enough for a 10-year-old boy to crawl
into"
CONSERVATION scene Number . was
then enacted in the camp, and
the gentlemen offered to pay
for the row and double the bet
If Mr.. MCGEE would kindly refrain from
any mention Of the occurrence. h
COW il reported to be recovering, and
any OF the party will tell you they had
a most enjoyable trip.