Barton County democrat., 1903-03-27
A Good Deal of
a Bear Hunt ~ ::
The Man From the Knob Country
Tells What Happened.
T was considerable of a bear hunt, !"

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T was considerable of bear hunt"
said the man from the Knob
country, "but I've an idea that Uncle
ST didn't jedge Pete so consarned
hasty, after all.
eve hadn't gone two mile up the
along it like hurricane He hadn't
no hat on, and he was lookin' wild.
We had all we could do to head him
off and stop him, SO as we could find
out what was the matter.
The woods is fun and runnin' over
with em, Pete hollers, as soon as he
could git some wind. 4 stood and
counted II old seekers passin' given
pint, and then natur' give way. 1
couldn't stand it no longer. I broke
o and run. How many more Gain IL
there was I couldn't stop - git the
fggers on!' he hollers. GO
"Pete was a feller that tarried con-
ide'ble at the appleiack, and he had
been tarryin' consid'bler than usual
At 1t o late, and Uncle ST knowed it.
So when Pete got through hollerin'
about the sight he had seen in the woods
Uncle ST fishes his pint bottle out O
his pocket and hands it over to Pete,
and Pete takes a swig that was amaz-
h'.
:" Now. Peter says Uncle ST, do you
see 'em now?' Cause Uncle ST had his
idee about the state O. Peters nerves.
"'See 'em now?'' says Pete. and there
was water runnin' out o his eyes yit
from the bite o. Uncle Sis recuperator.
No. he says Tt was a mile up the
creek, yonder, that. I see EN- he says.
Did they seem like they was rat
tiers says Uncle 81, or did they look
Hike only jest ordinary everyday sar-
pents?' says he.
'Sarpents!' says Pete. Great Hick-
oory Jackson he says, 4 hain't been
seein' sarpents. It's bear I been see
iA't Eleven old sockers passin' given
pint and I don't know how many
more follerin' EN- he says
Worse and worse!' SAYS Uncle ST.
When a feller gifts to seein' bears run
MIN in droves, Peter, it's gettin' along
to'rd time that he took an allApervadin'
swear-off. and
"Uncle Si didn't say no more. cause
jeet then there come a snort from up
the bank on one side o. the creek. and
q snort from up the bank on t'other
side 20 the creek, and the snorts came
from two slammin' big bears that was
sticl1in' their heads through the laurels.
where they had been Istenin' to the
hull confa b betwixt Uncle ST and Pete.
"Pete he give one yell and tore on
down the creek jest like he was tearin'
when we headed him off, and before
me or Uncle ST or any Of us could
whang away at either o. the bears they
was gone. I looked at Uncle 81, and
Hncle Si looked at me.
spears Hike as if T mowt "a been
jedgia' Peter leetle hasty.' says he:
Yes says. st looks that way. I
guess he seen EN- I says.
Then Simon's Abe got afeared that
his Amy was goin' to give him a spell,
and he started back toler'ble fast. SO
As to git there before the spell ketched
him. That left only me and Uncle ST
and Joe and Sam and Eli and young
Nose and Evander and Patsy's Bob, and
We marched on.
~Uncle 81 sent young Nose. and Eli
up in the laurels. one ON one side o. the
creek and one on t'other. while the rest
sf as foHered along below. We hadn't
marched fur before young Nose heerd
p rustlin' in the thick brush, and he
whangs away at it. Kerthumpy-te-
hump down the bank out O. the brush.
rolls Ellis bear dog Socky. that Eli
wouldn't "a took no fifty dollars fur,
and he lands in the creek. deader than
IL he'd been pizened week
"Mose,'a says Eli, most a-cryin'.
'there'll be mournin' to my house to-
night. worse'n when the daughters o.
Bab'lon hung their harps on the will
lersl' says he.
"'Cause the dog Socky was as good
at runnin' the churnin' MACHINE as he
was aterunnin' bear. and Ellis Of wom-
an was always peppery when Eli took
him huntin'.
"I don't know what young Nose was
egoin' 20 answer back. for before he had
schance to answer anything. two bears
came tearin' out o. the brush jest be-
pond Eli and pitched and rolled down
theSbaak. Eli banged away after 'eni:
but the bears got away in the laurels
asp the Bottom. A bunch o. fur and
few spatterin's o. blood showed that
Eli had Mt one of 'em.
.sThea Sam ne remembered that he.
was goin' to- have company for.dinner.
and he ha6eo hurry back home. I'VE all
sol In 70 sort . console Eli for the