Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-22
The Siege of Bruin.
ny GEKTRTDE HOLMAN

hC VI II NAAs
EY GERTRUpE HOLMAN.
Nearly the entire population of Steam
boat Springs had assembled To see the
six young mountain lions which John
Wilson caught for an eastern geological
garden For the most part the specta
tors kept mt Il respectful distance from
-the tawny, snarling creatures. but Earl
Hardy crowded eagerly forward and list
ened closely To the account of their cap
turc
III would have been a better stroke of
LdsincsS." said Mr.. Wilson. in conclusion.
'if had left them in the hills till spring.
1T will he four months before | can get
them to the railroad and they will eat
a pretty penny'S worth of meat in that
time, | tel! you
EaM'S heart gave 81 loud Il thud he
thought the boys about him must have
heard il. He glanced about quickly, but
no one appeared to notice him The boy
stood for some moments in silent thought
while plans running quickly through his
brain took definite shape.
When ut last the crowd had Dispersed.
Earl fingered at the side of the cage TO
conde his scheme 10 Mr.. Wilson Ii took
some time Ia convince the latter of the
feasibility of the plan. bat when al length
he reached home he was able Ia announce
10 his twil brothers, Jim and Jack, who
were II year younger than himself. that
he had contract to supply six moun-
tain lions with meat for the coming win
ter.
They will need forty or fifty pounds It
day. and MIR Wilson will pay us Il cent il
pound. he informed the boys. juhiantly.
by spring We can earn $50
The next morning the three took their
FsfI Had Hos l.
started out. Hunting to them was pure
sport. and To get pay for game that had
not been worth ammunition seemed an
easy way tO earn money. Moreover. thcy
knew where rabbits were particularly
abundant and it required hut IA few
hours to lay in good supply of meat
4s But aS N,c winter advanced the diff
Guilty of keeping the lions in ratons in
creased. The snow fell so deep in western
Colorado that winter and small game be-
came scarce, The boys were obliged to
80 farther and farther into the mountains
but with the help nj Grip. their bulldog
aud Mr.. Wilson's bear dog knowing
powerful animal of no particular breed
they managed to keep the lions Supplied
with food
One day well on in The winter the three
Hardy boys and their faithful assistants
had made an unusually long trip of ii
with little success. There was a thin
crust on the SNOW and the travellers were
obliged To wear snowshorS About FIVE
miles from town they had left their trail
sled and separated. Earl and Jem going
around the mountain, while Jack and the
dogs started MP its steep side. ON the
lower trail the hunting continued poor;
a stray rabbit came within range now
ana then, but other than this no game
made its appearance.
When the two boys had reached the
opposite side of the mountain :hcy sud
denly heard the familiar baying of Mr.
Wilson's bear dog, Don. As it came
nearer and nearer the barking grew
louder, and soon the clear air brought to
them the sound of breaking wood Big
game had been stared GraSping 1heif
guns more tightly, Earl and Jen started
up the slope. Before they had gone far.
however the Swapping and cracking
ceased. The eager, eNpectant cry Of the
dogs gave place tn disappointed yvlpS.
III" quarry hGd been trced
Jack too. from the top of the mountain
was close on the trail and the three boys
came up with the dogs mt the same Time.
Here they saw something that set their
blood tinglin@. ON a dead pine some III
teen feet above them. huggu@ the trunk
aud looking down with bright defiant
eyes. WIS a half grown black bear
No S0cncr had the boys Identified Their
quarry than they resolved upon plan Of
action. \ triuHphHl entry into Steam
boat Springs with lir" bear would can
I'll the hunting fca1S Of the winter. j.
would ne easy enough. Earl told his
brothers. They bad only "a drive a."
bear 10 the top of the tree When hc had
reached u certain height IN the pine, in
steHd of bending, would map and their
victim would come tnmhlutg 10 III"
ground. The dogs would n ru Scizr Il.
and while they held n the bows Nuuld
thrust gag between it, jaws and binG
its legs
Jack and lem caught their brother.
enthusiasm. and even went 80 far as H.
make preparations for carving th"r
captive rs Earl hrgHu shining no tho
rough bark. The bear looked down curl
onsly; then presently il snaricd and he
gan 10 ascend the trunk soon Earl WAS
among the branches. and still lie pressed
upward. slowly and stoadily. The bear
meanwhile rctreated reluctantly and
with caution. utt"ring grOwlS of increa~-
ing displeasurc with each foot that il I'D.
vaDced. The twins danced about under
The tree. shouting encouragement \ H..
tie more and the rotten wood must sure
ly give way. Earl felt tllo glow IF
achievement: he WAS picturing the SUR
prise Of their mate, and the coustcrna-
ton Of their mother upon their arrival
with bruln, when suddenly. with gut.
lefdl threat ana Il SHOW 81 teeth. The bear
turned and faced him. An instant llrr
It was letting itself down with surprising
agility. This WAS something the boy had
not counted OH and in another moment
, he was making for the ground in any
/ thing but deliberate manner.
Jem and Jack, although shouting with
! laughter ut their brothers plight. also re-
! trented 10 "A safe distance. Knowing ho
could drop If 1t became necessary. Earl
was not really frightened. A he. re-
| treated. however, his coat suddenly
inches fr0at one side OF thu trunk H.
tugged to free himself but the cloth wa,
/ strong aud refused to let 90 its hold. The
.rmnr.nn L..-. ..-L. -.-.-.- n..-E IN. L.LlLL