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

Copyright, 1855.
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THE thrilling stories of hair-breadth
escapes from the monarch Of the
American wilds-the grizzly bear-and
of the many times he has turned the
tables and hunted the hunter are all
doubtless quite true, but never heard
of but one occasion on which a grizzly
bear saved a mans life. The circum-
stances regarding the seeming paradox
were related to me by the survivor.
Hank Borrows was WAGNER in the
employ of the government at Mon
tana post. In winter. when teamina
was impossible, he hunted in the foot
Hills some distance from the fort. Oc-
casionally some of the younger officers
accompanied him, and it was consid-
cred something of an honor to go with
Hank upon one of his hunting trips.
The venture was sure to yield some
good returns in the way of game and
pelts.
Hank was giant in stature-a
mighty man of bone and muscle, who
could pack" mule-load If necessary
and who knew all the trails and noun
tain passes within 200 miles of the fort.
About Christmas time one winter
Hank started out with two Of the fort
officers--a Capt. Langdon and Lieut..
Chester-bound for a certain valley.
some 60 miles from the fort, which the
old guide well knew. The intention OF
the party was to spend q fortnight
hunting, cache their pelts before they
returned to the fort, and send sitter
them when the trail was broken in the
spring. They rode to logging camp
within Is miles of the entrance to the
valley and footed it from that point. es-
tablishing themselves near the center
Of the valley in log "lean-to" which
Hank had built the season before.
There was enough snow ON the
ground for good tracking and LanVdon
and Chester looked forward to some ex-
cellent sport. But when Hank returned
to camp the first night, after spending
the day setting beaver traps along the
river, he looked grave.
Il tell .ye how 1t is" he said. after
supper; II kinder wisht hadn't
brought you gentlemen into this we're
valley-that I dol"
What's the matter?" queried Lang
don.
Indian signs?" demanded the lieu.
tenant, eagerly. He was just out from
West Point and had yet to experience
nus first Ute and Bannock campaign.
mo, no." returned Hank. "iniuns
DON'T monkey round in the hills this
I've seen signs wuss'n that /.
What was it? Think therein he .
blizzard?"
we kin weather . blizzard" said
Hank, calmly, "an' we NAV cit one
Inc sigus is propeetious, as the wealth.
er prophets say in the Denver noo.-
papers. But that amt what's worritin.
me. seen tracks ter-day that toll me
.nar was somebody in this we're valley
mat can't stay here il I'm poin, ter
occupy it, too"
Another hunter, Hank ?r asked c.r.
ties?" wv Par-
>, Don't be hoggish, Hank" added
Inester. This is free country"
Tain't free enough for him an,
me- replied the old WAGNER with =
curious '.,n, smile on his rugged face.
Ihere amt room for both of us in
this we're valley an wisht / hadn't
brought you gentlemen into it..
There must be no shootin' scrana
hank, said the captain, sternly. III
thought you were decent, quiet sort
Of "A man"
am-mostly." said Hank, grinninr
behind his hand. but / tell We there
aint none of us safe while this chan.
erlive in this we're valley"
us he as big a desperate as that?"
cried Chester.
What dye suppose he's doing here
hunting?" questioned the CAPTAIN.
"Ya'as, reckon he's huntin," said
Hank.
who is he? What's his name ?" de-
Lieut.. Chester.
WAL" drawled Hank again, his
Eyes twinkling, II call him ole
Ephr'am.s
"Ole Ephriaml" burst out the can
lain, seeing the joke.
But the lieutenant was still mysti.
led. "Who is hep" he asked. II never
Ieard of him."
Hank, you must get us shot IL
Ilm.r declared the captain.
Nv you bloodthiystX wEetehj" ~