The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-09
~ ETER MCCALL. sitting on the
> cedar-rail fence, gazed re-
flectively at the mountain
u

VINO was taking MS uIleT-DreHhIhSt
smoke: Bob Turner told me last
week he'd give me six bits and board
to chop the late cuckle-burs out of his
cotton"
you've got right to work il you
want to. ! can tend TO things here"
few minutes later Peter was fol-
lowing dim path up the mountain,
with n heavy hoe on his shoulder The
McCalls lived on little farm in n
valley Of the Colorado River, in Texas
On reaching the top of the mountain,
Peter saw that his two dogs, Trap and
Watch, knowing he would scOld them
back II he saw them soon after start
ing, had sneaked away and were
ahead of him. They were running
back and forth among the cedar thick
cts, smelling and hunting busily, as
IL affecting that he had told them to
do so. He laughed, and let them go
unscolded.
a little later he heard the dogs bark
ing, and soon he saw young bear run
across an open space but few yards
ahead. and disappear in the direction
of the river.
The dogs had not yet seen the bear,
but We're on its trail. Shouting to
them, Peter started after the cub, in-
tending to use the hoe for Il weapon.
From time to time as he ran lie caught
glimpses of the bear through the ce-
dars. He soon came close to the prec-
ipice that here overhangs the Colo
RADIO, and then he saw the little bear
disappear over the edge of the cliff.
There he found u steep. narrow path
leading down to II ledge some fifteen
feet below. The bear had vanished.
Shouting again to the dogs, Peter went
cautiously down to the ledge. which
was about Il yard and n half wide,
and about seventy-five feet above the
Colorado River.
Peter walked along the ledge until
he reached part so overhung by the
cliff that he could not stand upright.
So he went on his hands and knees,
pushing the hoe before him. Turn
ing a corner, he saw that the ledge
came to IN end not far beyond; but
between the corner and the end it was
ten or twelve feet wide and about
thirty feet long, making Il comfortable
platform Back of the wide place
We're three well-worn, oily holes,
which told Pete he had discovered a
bears den.
At the end of the ledge was a large
piece of rock 1t had fallen from
above, and stood on end against the
wall. One of the holes was partly
behind this rock. There Peter saw II
young bears nose come out and quick
ly 80 back. Dropping to his hands
and knees, he pecred into the hole,
but saw only darkness. Then he
pushed his hoe-handle into the hole
but could not feel the bear.
The dogs now came running along
the ledge on the scent and began to
bark at the hole where the bear-cub's
nose had appeared. Peter was en-
couraging them to crawl in ana at
tack, when full-grOwn bear, the dam
of the young one, emerged from an
other opening.
In his cagerness to capture the cub
Peter had forgotten that cubs have
parents. He now saw the angry sht
bear between him and the only way
of escape. Raising the hoe. he stood
on the defensive, while the dogs, see
ing the big bear advancing. rushed al
her fiercely.
The old lady seemed to be an ex
perienCed and cool fighter She SAT
down near the outer edge of the rocky
Iioor, ana suddenly reaching out hel
LETT paw, knocked Watch over the
cliif. Poor Watch uttered despalring
yelps as he plunged down, turning
over and over.
Peter leaned over In time to see the
dog strike the water, ana disappear
lie quickly came up, however, anC
after swimming round and round, an(
finding no landing place, turned anl
started for the east bank, one hun
dred yards distant
When the bear struck Watch Trar
rushed in, but n blow from her paw
sent him rolling over the rocky noo,
toward the wall. lie sprang up, an,
rushed at her again, recklessly Thel
the same paw that had knocked
Watch off struck him, and over III,
cliff he went whrling.
Peter heard the falling dog strlk,
the water, but had no time to lool,
because the victorious bear was nov
advancing toward him. lie retreate,
I'LL his back was against the fallel
rock at the end of the ledge, wher
he stood on guard with uplifted hoe
meaning to hit the bear once, at least
before jumping after the dogs.
But he quickly changed his plan
The jump would be dangerous, an,
II could be taken as last resort an
time. Putting one hand on the rock
which was about five feet high, am
the other on the end of his hoe-handlC
he leaped upon the rock. Now he wa
in Il fair position for defence, beln
above and nearly out of reach of tn
bear on rock SO smooth that sh
could not easily climb H.
On she came, growing, and stood o
her hind feet with her paws agains
the barrier. Peter aimed blow u