River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-01
HANK BORROWS'
ADVENTURE.
q Copyright 1898

BY w. BERT FOSTER.

tables and hunted the hunter are all
doubtless quite true, but | never heard
of but one occasion on which a gr' zzly
bear saved 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 a Mon
taua post. In winter. when teaming
Was impossible, he hunted IN the foot.
hills some distance from the fort. Dc
casionally some of the younger officers
accompanied him, and it was consid-
cred something of an honor 10 go with
Hank upon one of his hunting trips
i he venture was sure to yield some
good returns in the way of game and
Pelts.
Hank was giant in stature
mighty man of bone and muscle, who
could pack a mule-load if neces sary
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
otlicers-a Capt. Langdon and Lieut.
Chester bound for 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
II turned to the fort, and send after
them when the trail was broken in the
sFring They rode to a logging camp
within Is miles Of the entrance 10 the
valley and footed it from that point, es-
taolishing 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 Langdor
end Chester looked forward to some ex.
ceIlent sport. But when Hank returned
Ia camp the first night, after spending
the day setting beaver traps along the
river, he looked grave.
Il tell We how it is" he said, after
supper: II kinder wish't hadn't
brought you gentlemen into this we're
valley-that dot"
What's the matter?" queried Lang.
don. 800 t
Indian signs?" demanded the len.
tenant, eagerly, He was just out from
West Point and had yet to experience
his first Ute and Bannock campaign.
NO, no." returned Hank. "Iniuns
don't monkey round in the hills this
weather. I've seen signs wuss'n that"
What was it? Think therell be q
blizzard p"
We kin weather a blizzard. +" said
Hank, calmly, IAN we NAV cit one
he signs is propeetious, as the wealth.
er prophets say in the Denver noos-
papers. But that amt what's worritin'
me. | seen tracks ter-day that toll me
mar was somebody in this yere valley
'hat can't stay here if I'm goin ter
occupy it. too
Another hunter, Hank ?" asked Cant
1angdon. "Ain't room for two mar.
ties?"
Don't be hoggish, Hank" added
Chester. This is a free country"
Iain't free enough for him an,
me- replied the old WAGNER. with y
curious smile on his rugged face
There amt room for both of us in
tins yere valley an ] wish't | hadn't
brought you gentlemen into it,"
must ne no shootIn scrape,
Hank, said the captain, sternly. II
thought you were a decent, quiet sort
OF man"
= am mostly" said Hank, grinninp
behind his hand. but | tell We there
amt none of us safe while this chap's
eriive in this yere valley"
rs he as big a Desperate as that %
cried Chester.
What dye suppose he's dong here
hunting?" questioned the captain.
"Ya'as, reckon he's hlrntin'." said
Hank.
Who is he? What's his name" de
manded Lieut.. Chester
"Wa'al," drawIed Hank again his
eyes twinkling, Il call him ole
Ephram
"Ole Ephriam!" 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 at
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 a roar of laughter
"Humph, where's the joke?" 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.
! 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 we'll established
here?" cried the lieutenant
Nov. 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' sich risks
an you amt, | sh'd so on the warpath
ter ole Ephr'am if | was erlone an
I before undertook to do anything
else"
What's the matter with letting the
+ grizzly alone MS long as he let's us
+ aIone?" demanded the lieutenant, who
+ was less anxious 10 meet the fOrmid-
+ able creature than his brother officer.
''Na'as, but yer can't do that erway
with Ole Ephr'mn If We don't hunt
/ him he's sure ter hunt YOU If | let
+ you Youngsters 60 footin round this
we're valley, careless like, that old res
/ linn II be sure ter strike yer traii an
I 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 Fphr'am Il
give the best shot { ever drew a bead
tn everlustin' tremb'in' ague when he
lights onter him for the first time. But