The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-20

without waiting for me. This broke
the ice and made US friends again, and
it was agreed to give old Ephraim
hard run for it next day. When morn
Ing came, had about taken old Potts
under my wing again and was secretly
glad that | hadn't reached him with
my club AS soon as breakfast was
dispatched we started out. The bear
had left tracks as big as house and
in going away had headed along the
mountain. We could reasonably hope
to hole him up somewhere within a
mile, provided he had satisfied his
hunger and got home in the due sea-
son. When we finally came to likely
spot. l went to the right and Potts to
the left to investigate an opening In
the rocks. | made a slow advance,
realizing that the bear might be in
ambush behind any of the big bowl
ders, and was crouching alongside of
one, with neck stretched out. when
there was a whiz and a spat, and
was blinded for moment by particles
of stone flung into my eyes. Potts was
carrying rifle that day, and as its
bark followed the spat of the bullet
knew what had happened. While l
had my hands to my eyes | heard him
shout at the top of his voice:
"Hey, colonel. I've got him-got him
fur surew
Half a minute later he stood beside
me, prepared to finish OFF the game"
l think he was really surprised and per-
haps considerably disappointed when
he found living man instead of a
dead grizzly. and he hadn't word to
say. He sat down near me on rock,
and it was five minutes before | had
my eyes cleared enough to make him
out. Then l brought up my Winches-
ter and said:
Potts, I'm going to shoot 16 holes
into your jackass carcass! Where do
you want the first one?'
$50 it was ye instead Of BARR he
Queried in reply.
at was, and you knew it was. You
meant to murder and rob me, you old
villain! Talk fast, now, for you haven't
got 60 seconds to live!'
"Look here, colonel" he protested.
but only mildly, at was mistake any
wasn't hurt, don't see why We should
kick up Dan'l. Fact is, colonel
$50 on! Go on! You have 20 Sec
onds morep' l said as he halted.
"Waal, the fact of 1t is I'm goin to
quit. I never was out with one of We
newspaper men before, and dang my
hide if ever want to be ag'in. The
boys said We was crank and kicker
and that I'd soon cut my job, but ye
talked smooth and give orders fur
plenty of grub, and | was willin to
take chances. Howsumever"
"Howsumever what. you nearsight-
ed. squint eyed. dunderheaded pot
hunterT
"Howsumever. colonel the boys was
right, and, bein | can't do nuthln to
please ye though have tried my best.
l guess I'll resign, and We kin run the
circus yerself."
Next day we started the outfit for
home Potts might have reconsidered
mis- resignation. but | wouldn't give
him chance l couldn't stay up there
alone, but it was death to stay with
him. We made the journey of 80 miles
without word When we reached
home, paid him off and said:
"Potts, you-you-you are an unhung
idiotp
"What fur, colonel?" he innocently
asked.
Because you can't help it"
'Waal. mebbe am. but If We could
only have held on to that crankiness of
yers we'd have got at least four bars
and five or six lions. to say nuthin of
wolves and wildcats. Day to We. colo
mel Awful sorry ye can't help yer
meanness."