The Van Buren press., 1898-12-17

THE thrilling stories Of hsiF-Dresafk
escapes from tie naenaseA q fhs
American wilas-the grizzly 5eaF-and
81 Tie many times be has tHFnsd II
tables and hunted The hunter ar I'll
doubtless quite true. but never heard
of but one occasion 81 which gr' z ,
bear saved ma1's Afe. The eirea1-
stances regarding the seeming pzrsGo1
we're related 70 me y the survivor
Hank BsrrOxs wa4 wagner IL tie
employ 81 the government a. a Moa-
fana pOst. In winter when feaHalH2
Vas impossible. be hunted Il fAs foet-
Ills some distance from the fort 0e-
casionaliy some u the younger 0fieea
accompanied him, and 1t was eolsld-
efed something u aH bczer 70 - pazth
Hank upon one Of his hunting trfpe
The venture va sure to yfeld soae
good returns II the asy u game ar
pelts.
Hank aaS giani = atzture-s
mighty man of bore and muscle. Nho
could pack Dule-Iosd r neeeaszry
and uho knew ali the trails and aaoss-
tain passes within - miles Of tEs fort.
About Christmas time one winter
Hank started oaf wiih txs q he fort
ofiicers-a Capt. LangdOu and Meat.
fbesier-bgund for . certain salls1.
come % miles from the fort, Nhlch tie
old guide sell knew. The inteafi5n Il
The party zgas 70 spend 3 fortnight
hunting. cache heir pelta before iheY
ftiuraed u the fOrf, and zend sf1sf
lem when the trail 9ss broker. ia the
sFring They rode 70 logging amp
~iihia u miles gf the entrance 10 The
valley and footed IL from that r.osnt. -
iablishing themselves near the center
81 the valley IN log ''lsan-to~ which
Hank had built the season before.
There waA enough snow On the
ground for good tracking and Lan4dor
md Chester looked forward 10 some sx-
ctlieHt sport. But when Hank returned
70 camp the first night, after Npenclng
the day setting beaver traps along The
river, he looked grave.
u tell ye how it H." BE- said. after
supper; II kinder wiah't I hadn't
brought you gentlemen into this yere
valley--ihat I dol"
What's The matter?" qperisd Lang
don.
Indian signs?' demanded the lieu
tenant, eagerly. He was just out from.
West Point and had yet TO experience
fis first Ute and Bannocle campaign
no, no." returned Hank. "Ipfaus
cont monkey round Ia the hills thls
Weather. I've seen sigma wuss'n that 81
What was it? Think therein be a
biizzard?"
We Kin weather blizzard" /" sajd
Hank, calmly, "an' we may git ore
he signs is propeetious, as the wealth
eI prophets say 10 the Denver Boos-
papers. But that amt what's worritiu'
me. ! seen tracks ter-day that tor me
mar was somebody IN this we're valley
hat can't stay here IL I'm goiu Ter
occupy IL. too
Another hunter, Hank 2'' asked Gan,
ties?r
Don't be hoggish, Hank" added
Chester This il free country
Ian't free enough for him an
NE replied the old WAGNER. with a
curious smile on his rugged face
There amt room for both of US in
this yere valley an wish't / hadn't
brought you gentlemen into it,"
There must be no shootin' scrape
Hank said the captain, sternly. ~
thought you were a decent. quiet sort
OF man"
y am mostly" said Hank, grinninp
behind his hand. But tell We there
amt none OF us safe while this chap.
erliye in this yere valley"
81 Is he as big desperate as that 2r
cried Chester.
What dye suppose he's doing here
hunting?" questioned the captain.
''fa'as reckon he's huntin'." said
Hank.
who is hep What's his name ?" de.
nlanded Lieut.. Chester.
'Wa'al," drawled Hank again. hi.
eyes twinkling, II call him 'Ole
Ephr'am.'
"Ole Ephriaml" burst out the cap.
tain. seeing the joke.
But the lieutenant was still mysti
fed who is he?'' he asked. Il never
heard Of him"
Hank, you must get us a shot al
him, declared the captain.
"Why. you bloodthirsty wretch" ex.
claimed the lieutenant, eying his
brother officer in wonder.
Both the captain and guide burst
into roar Of laughter.
Humphl where's the ioke?" 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
A. Hank sorry we are here"
"Canse ye don't know nothin' er-
bout Ole Ephr'am," interposed Hank.
''If ye knowed him ye wouldn't arsk.
/ reckon the best thing we kin do is
ter light out an find some other hunt
in grounds"