The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-02

or a shank of moose. lt Us tanned
with the hair on and Is worn nar slae
out. such mOccasins are often sold WIN
the skin and claws taken from the under
side of a. bears foot, and IL they are
properly made up i. will take skilled
hunter 20 distinguish the imprints or
shank" from the tracks OF d real A's
bear.
The visit which Uncle Ben lately made
TO this place was TO r0toycr his health
and tho bear hunt formed 30 part OF MS
original programme. one nlenli Wheh
bear came and stole two pigs from the
cellar Of the stable attached 10 the motel
where Uncle Ben boarded, the old man
couldn't stand 1T any longer Aided by
an tho boys and dogs in the settlement
he tracked the bear up the side OF Iron
Mountain 20 "a cleft in the ledge, and then
plugged uD tho opening with fiat stones
driven homo with q heavy siedgo. Atter
waiting eight days for tho bear TO GO,
hungry. Uncle Ben hired Simeon Drew,
Il local bear hunter of rcputc, 10 accom-
pany him and participate in the fun.
Uncle Ben being too fat 10 gain easy ac-
cess 10 the opening tn the ledge q Few
sheets were broken Off, and SIMEON, cad
I'm his undergarments and wearing Uncle
Ben's shank m0ccasins. wormcd himself
into the bears den, pushing hailn6
birch bark torch in front of him.
Hold on TO the ehanks, Ben was
Simeon's parting order $50 al L sit IN
trouble YOU kin pull me out darn quick.
You amt got no time ter waste en- or
bars onter yer"
After SONG about two yards IN the mar
row passage Simeon came 10 place
where the rock made q shelf, beyond the
edge OF which was q wide, deep hole.
Holding his torch over the side, he saw
the bear lying close mp under the wall,
about ten feet below HIM Going outside
to renew his torch and get his rife.
Simeon returned TO tho dcn. ana, mold
ing his rife muzzle down above the bear
discharged 81 three times. Uncle Ben
heard the reports and saw the smoke
pour out from the opening. Ihen ne
heard Simeon shout:
"Pull me out quick. Ben. She's Groom
IN with her n outh wide open and blood
I'm her eye. Quick, Benll GeelNosh! Com
sarn al"
Ben reached as far as his arms would
allow. He heard Simeon groan, and the
bears grOwiings grew more distinct
every moment There was q scratching
in the dark hole. which drew nearer un-
til something soft with claws on IL
touched Uncle Ben's Outstretched palms
He grabbed with all his might and pulled
When he reached daylight he was out
of wind and nearly blinded with smoke
and persplration.
Are We hurted. SIM he asked
"Whar's Their varmint Sim? What
therenl sim-m. Gee whilikensl Moses
an Their prophets! It's thor BARI
After this Uncle Ben felt himself wrap
ped up I'm great warm folds of shaggy
fur. which frightened their grip until his
wind left him and he couldn't groan any
more. His face and shoulders were on
fire with strange agony that took away
all of his desire for lighting lie fell the
blood as II ran down his face and ,rlckcd
from his beard 10 the ledge. lie tried 20
count the drops rs they fen. but gave 10
up and concluded to go TO sleep
ben, Ben, yer old devil. What's ALL
ing yer? Iiev yer been run through or
thrashln machine orstruck by lghnin?
Whar5 Their bar? Gosh darn it. why
donohor speak?' Simeon stood over
Uncle Ben kicking him in the ribs and
complaining bitterly about the vanished
bear, the lost bounty. and the general
lack Of amusing features which the hunt
had afforded. When the old man finally
opened his ewes ana recovered the breath
which tho bear had driven out, he was
anything but pleased lie blamed Simeon
for taking such poor aim at short range
ne blamed him for letting the bear es-
cane while there We're two good cart
ridges left IN the rifle. and he frankly
avoWed his belief that If he had been in
side the cave instead OF Simeon such
series Of disasters could not have taken
place
An'tor think I sh'ud cr pulled ct bar.
thinkin Their hui time it wos youi" he
concluded. "Wel. swami You kin bet
the las doughnut Ia yer pocket that the
next time i grab hold NV err pair NV
shanks IN Jess erbout know what's in
ter 'em erfore 7 pull. That's so. b
goshr--N w Sun.