Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-01-29

chained up on the boiler deck, and the
cabin was Uttered wit hhis traps-guns,
belts of shells, leggins and all the par
aphernalia Of nimrod.
"Of course we got to talking to him,
asking him how many deer he had kill
ed and all manner of questions, and
trying our best 10 draw him out. But
it was no so; he was closer than next
election day, and to our questions re-
turned answers that were shorter than
good pie crust. The rest of the pas
sengers finally got discouraged and
gave up trying to smoke him out, but
like a fool | persisted. At last he
smiled benignly on me-in a way that
made me feel bigger than conquering
hero-and said:
"'oYung man, such persistency as
you have shown should not go unre-
warded take it you want me to spin
you a yarn, to while away the tedium
OF this short but slow voyage-to tell
You an adventurous story of hunting
wild animals in their native haunts.
That was exactly what did want;
and | was not slow in so expressing
myself He went on smiling that be-
nign smile and looking thoughtful for
some time Fin he said:
" l can tell you good bear story
=" All right-tell it, answered with
alacrity.
He commenced in an easy. smooth
way that attracted and held every
body's attention. His story-as near
| N oh
this:
"1 was born up at Andover, Maine
little hamlet occupying a green
amphitheater among the handicapped
spurs of the White Mountains Just
north of the village lies a string of
small lakes, today the mecca of hun
dreds of city fishermen. When | was
a lad 30 years ago, the woods sur
rounding the town were full of bear.
deer, and smaller game; and like all
the other boys of the neighborhood, |
wasted much time hunting and fishing.
As you see, the idle habit has chung to
me.
One day in summer, when was
about fifteen years old. I shouldered
my fathers old musket and set out
across the hills. | tramped mile after
mile without discovering any signs Of
game But along in the afternoon,
when | was about ready to abandon
my quest and return home, | came up
on bear track in the soft, wet sand
along the side of a brook. | was hun
ter enough to know the track was n
fresh one and, bov-like, | rashlv re-
solved to follow 1t II possible and have
n shot at the animal. succeeded only
too we'll For had not gone
hundred yards along its trail when
with great crashing of brush and
a roar that made my hair stand on end
the bear sprang out of clump Of
bushes and advanced upon me. It was
n female; and the cause of her ag-
gressyeness was the fact that she had
two small cubs with her
Instantly | threw my gun to my
shoulder and pulled the trigger. But
| was trembling with excitement and
my aim was bad. AS n consequence |
only succeeded in wounding the moth
or bear and engaging her the more.
Ere | could think about reloading my
empty piece, she was upon me. With
n blow of her paw she sent the mus
ket spinning from my grasp. Then,
rearing upon her mind feet and growl-
ing hideously, she stretched forth her
arms to give me fatal hug | saw
her burning eyebals, her red mouth,
and flashing teeth; and felt her hot
breath upon my face. | was paralyzed
with fear; my limbs were like lead.
tried to scream-but could not.
Then of sudden | recovered my
presence Of mlad. And whlrllng like
flash, ! dashed away as fast as my
strong and nlmble legs could carry me.
The bear dropped from her erect pos
ture and swiftly rolled after me- | had
never known until then what powers
Of speed the lumberi 2 brutes possess
and as ! crashed through brush and
brambes IN m" mad flight, cursed the
temerity that had led me to put the
question to test. For in spite OF my
best endeavors, the bear steadily gain
cd upon me.
Just when | was ready to drop
from exhaustion, | spled narrow cleft
between two large granite rocks that
lay in my path; and made final Of
fort to reach the asylum that so pro-
videntlally offered | felt If could
reach the rocks and wedge myself be-
tween them. the infatuated brute could
not reach me. But | was doomed TO
For when within ten
feet Of the place, my foot caught upon
a running vine and | fell headolng to
the ground. In a moment the bear
had pou"ced upon me and was tearing
at my yitals
welt" Cridar continued. "the
mighty Nimrod stopped right there, as
If he'd got TO the end Of his story. or
course everybody was on the tiptoe of
myself included. But the
old fellow calmly and deliberately light
ed his pipe took few long-drawn and
delicious pulls, and commenced to turn
the pages Of n magazine he had been
reading. We AL looked at one another
in won Ter; but nobody said anything.
At last ! couldn't hold in any longer.
and | ASKED as unconcernedly as
could.
well how did II come out?'
'Eh?' the old fellow answered, look
ing mp as II greatly surprised.
How did your adventure termln-
ate?' ! asked.
'Termlnate?' he said softly. again
smiling that sweet, benign smile. oh.
the bear killed met
And ! gOi mp and took n sneak"
crider concluded, followed by roar5