The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

in due time was appointed as night ope-
! rator at a mountain pass IN the Rockies.
IL was a big jump and the post assigned
me was not a very desirable one for
tenderfcot. but I could not afford 80 be
fastidious. So with not a few misgvinss.
settled down In my new quarters deter
mired to make the best OF IL.
Martin. the day operator. was man
mi ch ny senior both in years and ser
vice. ard 10 him ] first conveyed my
intention 10 90 bear hunting. He insist
ed that 10 do so, inexperienced as /
was would be suicide; but I had set my
heart on it.and to escape another harangue
slipped OF one day without saying any
thing 10 him.
THE BEAR HUNT.
Armed with a repeating rifle OF large
bore. / started out down the track. making
for "A point some six miles from the
station. where | had on previous occasions
seen numerous bear tracks
! had covered about two-thrds the dis
lance. when on turning a sharp curve.
came IN sight Of a huge fellow. lie did
not see me. but came along towards me
at a slow shuffling walk with his head
down, shifting at the ground now and
then and sometimes stopping 10 examine
anything that proved particularly inter-
esting. I stepped behind a friendly tele-
graph pole and waited. my courage grad
ually oozing out al my finger tips as he
approached nearer and nearer. / let him
advance as close as l dared and then care
| fully drawing bead. fired a puff OF dust
| about a hundred yards beyond the bear
| told me that / had shot too high but he.
| fairly enraged. started for me at trot
| tried % throw another cartridge into posi-
| ton. but i'm my excitement the empty shell
hung and refused 10 bulge.
p. no other weapon except hunting
| knit, INT I had no idea of getting at
| close quarters with the brute, - making
a final and frantic effort 10 get the shell
out. / dropped the gun and Skinned up
the pole
| CLIMBED THE POLE.
| The bear reached the foot OF the pole
| about the same time that / reached the
| cross-arm above. / was all in trem-
BILE for fear he would try to climb up after
me. but after walking around the pole
| several times cycling me and growing all
| the while, he sat down on his launches 10
| await developments. a move that relieved
| me greatly at first. but gave me time 10
fully realize the extent of my predica-
| meRt
| sat there for sometime not moving
| hand or foot in hopes that the bear might
1
| thing. but there was no special dispense
ton for my benefit and the bear had evil
IDENTIFY attended TO all his business for the
| day and had no intention of raising the
| siege on his own account
| In nv desperation II occurred 10 me that
| might cross to the next pole On the
| wires: II was a risky thing 10 do but
| the appalling thought of staying up that
| pole indefinitely. and the possibility OF the
| bear receiving achievements as night ap-
| preached nerved me 20 make the attempt.
| so carefully straddling the two inside
| wires and pulling myself along by the
| outer ones. / started on the trip across
| II was comparatively plain sailing unui
| reached half way between the poles
when the real work commenced; the slack
| in the wires and my weight together
| made It up hill either way and 10 ada 10
| my discomforture. one Of the wires In the
| struggle snapped and fell TO the ground
! nearly carrying me with II. / eventually
| made the trip. however. only TO find that
| the bear had anticipated my arrival ann
| was now seated under my new perch,
| highly interested in the proceedings but
| In no way discouraged at the result.
| COULDN'T SWAP POLES.
7 could not so on swapping poles all
night and at a conservative estimate II
| DAYS to reach the station. mt the rate 7
was travelling. provided. Of course. that
| I had no accident en- route; so ! gave 1t
up and cast about in my mind for some
| thing more rational
II was a gloomy outlook No one knew
| NV whereabouts and Martin. the only one
that would miss me. would think nothing
wrong. as he had on several occasions
been forced to work my shift on account
| Of my failure to show up. began think