The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-12-31

INTO roar OF laughter.
"Hurnph! where's the joker" queried
Chester, seeing that he had been sold
"'Old Ephriam' is a name hunters
give to the grizzly bear in these parts, -
explained Capt. Langdon. But why
is Hank sorry we are here
"'Cause We don't know nothin' err
bout Ole Ephr'am," interposed Hank.
IF We knowed him We wouldn't arsk.
1 reckon the best thing we kin do is
ter light out an find some other hunt
in grounds"
Get Quit" exclaimed the captain, in
disgust.
Just when we are well established
here?" cried the lieutenant.
snow, Hank" said the older officer,
'you know you wouldn't run if we
weren't with you"
That's maybe So" responded the
guide. "But I'm ulster takin' SIGH risks
an You amt. I sh'd go on the warpath
fer Ole Ephr'am if was erlone an
clean him out-'r git cleaned out my
self-before undertook to do anything
else"
whats the matter with letting the
grizzly alone as long as he let's Us
alone?" demanded the lieutenant, who
was less anxious to meet the formid-
able creature than his brother officer.
"Ya'as, but yer can't do that erway
with Ole Ephr'am. If We don't hunt
him he's sure ter hunt you. If let
you youngsters go footin' round this
yere valley, careless like, that old res
kim II be sure ter strike yer trail an
gobble We up"
you've got pretty poor opinion of
our sense and ability to shoot" said
Langdon, in disgust.
"They amt got nothin' ter do with
it," declared Hank. "Ole Ephr'am III
give the best shot t ever drew bead
tn everlastin' tremblin' ague when he
lights onter him for the first time. But
If we stay here that critters got to be
killed." concluded Hank, decidedly.
"Then let's all have whack at it,"
said Capt. Langdon. mo use in your
hogging all the glory yourself
"Glory!" snorted Hank. Its jest
like one o. them blood-feuds in Mis-
souri, where 1 come from. It's case
O. kill r git killed, an there amt much
glory to that, reckon"
So they took their heaviest guns the
next morning and left camp in search
of Old Ephriam. Hank led them up
the stream to the spot where he had
seen the grizzly's tracks the day be-
fore. There they were, like big, broad
human foot-prints-the biggest track
either of the army officers had ever
seem They began at once to have
larger respect for their enemy they
had set outsso light heartedly to kill.
He must be as big as bullock"
declared young Chester.
"He,s bigger'n the biggest OK ever
you Sec" Hank replied. I'm a-bettin'
it's an ole male. an bouncer at that.
Lucky faint she with cubs
maybe his mate is here somewhere,
too suggested Langdon.
"Wa-al. We'll hev chance enough ter
learn" responded Hank. quietly.
They pushed across the valley and
just at the edge of the scrub growth
which fringed the low ground found
deer, half flayed and still warm. Here
yesterdays tracks were crossed and
recrossed by fresher ones. It was evil
dent the grizzly had returned to the
valley for his breakfast and, after max
ing his kill and devouring such as he
cared for, had gone back into the hills.
He had left the spot but shortly before
the hunters appearance. for the scent
of the warm blood had not yet drawn
the wolves.
Gentlemen, Ole Ephr' am is near by"
declared the guide. ''We shall ketch up
with him mighty Sudden. II the
ground allows want We sh'd spread
put, one on each side O. me-that'll con-
fuse him-an' jest pump lead for all
ye're wuth. That's the only way ter
kill grizzly-load him down with SO
much lead t he can't carry it,"
The trail, plain and broad, took the
party along the edge of the scrub and
1T length turned up broad-mounted
gully in the hillside. The gully was
heavily wooded and rapidly narrowed
as they pressed on.
"a bad place." muttered Hank, and
he led the way all too slowly for the
young officers.
Hurry up, Hankl" begged Lieut..
Chester. "WeIl never bag the BRUTE"
"Wa-al, eff we bury he's likely to
bag u.s." responded the guide. drawl-
ngly. THAR! Dye see that?'
"What?"
"That bush moved! He's behind that
shootin'. kalkerlate
he's got his eye on us, too"
"What1l we do-crawl up behind
aim?"
"Crawl up-nothin!" returned the
yuide. 'Never see the man yet could
'rawl up behind grizzly on the watch
Keep still an walk right on as though
We didn't notice nothin'. Then, when
lie springs Ont, let drive"