The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-11-26
HANK BORROWS'
ADVENTURE.
THE thrilling stories Of hair breadth
BY w. BERT FOSTER

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 grizzly
bear saved mans life. The circum-
stances regarding the seeming paradox
were related 10 me by the survivor.
Hank Borrows was a wagner in the
employ OF the government at Mon
tana post. In winter, when teaining
was impossible, he hunted in the foot
Kills some distance from the fort. Oc-
casionally some of the younger officers
accompanied him, and IL 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 a giant in stature-a
mighty man of bone and muscle, who
could pack" a 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 Capt. Langdon and Lieut..
: Chester-bound for certain valley,
some GO miles from the fort, which the
old guide we'll knew. The intention of
the party was TO spend a fortnight
hunting, cache their pelts before they
returned to the fort, and send after
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 il 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 Langdon
end Chester looked forward 10 some ex-
cellent sport. But when Hank returned
20 camp the first night, after spending
the day setting beaver traps along the
river, he looked grave.
II tell We how IL is" he said, after
supper; 81 kinder wish't / hadn't
brought you gentlemen into this yere
valley-that dol"
whats the matter?" queried Lang.
don.
Indian signs?" demanded the lieu.
tenant, eagerly. He was just out from
West Point and had yet TO experienc,
his first Ute and Bannock campaign.
"No, no." returned Hank. 'Injuns
don't monkey round in the hills thi,
weather. I've seen signs wuss'n that.
"What was IL? Think therell be 4
blizzardf''
"We kin weather n blizzard" sale
Hank. calmly, IAN we may git one
The signs is proportions, as the wealth
err prophets say in the Denver noos
=. papers. But that amt what's worritin
me. / seen tracks ter-day that toll M
thar was somebody in this yere vale,
that can't stay here II I'm goin' tie
occupy il, too"
Another hunter, Hank ?" asked Capt
Langdon. "Ain't room for two par
ties?"
Don't be hoggish, Hank" adde
Chester "This is free country"
"'Tain't free enough for him an
me-" replied the old WAGNER with
curious smile on his rugged fac,
"rhere amt room for both OF us |
this yere valley an / wish't l hadn
brought you gentlemen into IT,"
"Thcre must be no shootin' scrap,
Hank" said the captain, sternly.
thought you were "A decent, quiet sol
of man"
81 am-mostly," said Hank, GRIMM
behind his hand. But / tell We thel
amt none of us safe while this chap
erlve In this yere valley"
us he as big desperate as that
cried Chester.
"What dye suppose he's doing here
hunting2" questioned the captain.
"Ya'as, | reckon he's huntin'," sa
Hank.
"Who is he? What's his name?" d
manded Lieut.. Chester.
"Wa'al," drawled Hank again, h
eyes twinlSling, IL call him %
Ephr'am.
"ole Ephriaml" burst out the ca
tain. seeing the joke.
But the lieutenant was still mys
fed. "who Is hep he asked. IL new
heard of him."
n "Hnnk, you must get US a shot
II him" declared the captain.
.Why. you bloodthirsty wretch"