Iron County register., 1898-11-24
HANK BORROWS'
ADVENTURE.
BY w. BERT FOSTER

THE thrilling stories of hair-brendth
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 a wagner in the
employ of the government at Mon
tana post. In winter. when teaIning
was impossible, he hunted in the foot
Hills some distance from the fort. Oc-
casionaliy 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 q 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-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 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 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 Langdon
end Chester looked forward to some ex-
acellent sport. But when Hank returned
to camp the first night, after spending
the day setting beaver traps along the
river, he looked grave.
II tell ye how it is" he said, after
supper; "I kinder wish't I hadn't
brought you gentlemen into this we're
valley-that 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
his first Ute and Bannock campaign.
mo, no." returned Hank. "Iniuns
don't monkey round in the hills this
weather. I've seen signs wuss'n that. %
What was it? Think there1l be g.
blizzard?"
1--WE kin weather a blizzard" said
Hank, calmly, "an' we may git one.
The signs is propeetious, as the wealth
'er prophets say in the Denver noos-
papers. But that amt what's worritin'
me. 1 seen tracks ter-day that toI' me
thar was somebody in this we're valley
that can't stay here if I'm goin' ter
occupy it, too"
Another hunter, Hank ?'' asked Capt.
Langdon. "Ain't room for two par
ties?''
Don't be hoggish. Hank" added
Chester. "This is free country"
Tain't free enough for him an
me-" replied the old wagoner. with a
curious smile on his rugged face.
There amt room for both of us in
this yere valley an wisn't I hadn't
brought you gentlemen into it,"
There must be no shootin' scrape
HANK" said the captain, sternly. ST
thought you were a decent, quiet sort
of a man"
81 an-mostly," said Hank, grinning
behind his hand. "But tell We there
amt none of us safe while this chaps
.erlive in this yere valley"
SIS he as big desperate as that? p"
cried Chester.
what dye suppose he's doing here
1hunting?" questioned the captain.
h"Ya'as, reckon he's huntin'," said
Hank.
sWho is he? What's his name ?" de-
manded Lieut.. Chester.
"Wa'a1," drawled Hank again, his
eyes twinkling, 81 call him ole
Ephr'am.'
.'Ole EphriamI" burst out the cap
tain, seeing the joke.
But the lieutenant was still mysti-
fed. "Who is hep" he asked. ST never
heard of him."
Hank, you must get us shot at
him." declared the captain.
WHY. you bloodthirsty wretchl" ex-
claimed the lieutenant, eying his
brother officer in wonder.
Both the captain and guide burst
into roar of laughter.
4 "Humphl where's the joke" queried
/. Chester, seeing that he had been sold.
"sOld Ephriam' is name hunters
give to the grizzly bear In these parts" !"
explained Capt. Langdon. But why
is Hank sorry we are here"
"'Cause ye don't know nothin' err
bout Ole Ephr'am," interposed Hank.
..If We knowed him We wouldn't ars<.
I reckon tho best thing we kin do is
z4er light out an find some other hunt
@fn' grounda.@