The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-09-02
A LOFTY DANGER
LINE.
By GEORGE H. COOMER.

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Hurrah for the biggest old grizzly in
the mountains-here we go for himl"
l cried, as we started out from our
mining camp, near the Little Colorado
river for days hunt.
We were seven in number-all OF us
stout, sunburned fellows, and all save
one accustomed to the hardships of
fife in Arizona. That one was lad
from Maine named Tom Granville,
who had been with us but short time,
but to whom l had already taken a
fancy for his quiet and pleasant man
ner. He was a TALL awkward youth,
but intelligent and not afraid of work.
His ineXperience made him the vic
tim of some practical jokes; but how
ever keenly he may have felt such
impositions, his good nature remained
unruffied.
Our men believed that the smooth
spoken young chap had no great spir-
it; but, though he may have guessed
their thoughts he made no attempt to
convince them to the contrary.
There was not particle of Drag
about him. He had hunted in Maine,
but had never killed anything of much
consequence. In speaking of grizzlies
he remarked that he should like
chance at one, but should wish to have
a tree at hand in the meantime, as he
yAhad heard that those sharp nosed fell
lows were hard to kill
We scattered rather widely upon the
hunt in order to increase the chances
of success. But, for my part, | was
unable to get shot at any large game,
and as l heard no firing from the 9TH
ers it seemed probable that they, too,
were having only their labor for their
pains. At length | fell in with Tom
Granville and we tramped on together.
Tom had killed nothing. He had seen
a few deer at a distance, but it had
been impossible to get near them.
AS we continued our course others of
our party were occasionally seen to
the right or left, but there was not
single report far or near.
1--WE shall do wonderful days work
nit" remarked Tom, with laugh.
"Why, | thought a fellow could pick
up wagon load of deer in this coun-
try by just tramping out mile or
two!"
Presently the remainder of our par
ty joined us, SO that the seven were
once more together. But the last three
had very disagreeable intelligence.
They had discovered unmistakable
signs of Indians-and such a discov-
cry was sufficient to give us uneasi-
ness.
1t was now necessary to be careful
- in our movements, as we might at any
moment come suddenly upon some
hostile band. However, we concluded
to hunt for while longer.
So, after hanging the two deer upon
tree and eating our dinner, we again
started out with shouldered guns,
while a short tailed white dog, owned
by one of the men, went scurrying
away before us.
This time we kept we'll together, but
turn where we would, there was only
disappointment. 1t was impossible to
approach a deer without alarming it,
and as to bears, we discovered no
trace or one.
At length we saw directly in our path
a beautiful growth of young cedars,
the tops of which were thick and hea-
Wy, while the tall, straight trunks
were so small in diameter that they
seemed as if inviting one to climb
them
What a pretty grove that is" said
Percy Rawson.
Yes; I'd like 20 have just such a
one at home" responded Caleb Allen.
what place for picnic"
We walked on toward the thicket, |
hoping to make some fortunate dis
covery upon the other side of it.
Tom Granville was a few yards in |
advance of the rest, and upon arriv-
ing at the first tree he came to halt, |
leaning his back against the trunk as
If tired
The dog, running on little beyond |
him, stopped and commenced shifting
with his nose in the air, as If seeming
a raccoon or other game among the
foliage overhead.
I remember that there were three of
lis close together, and the others lit
tie behind.
Suddenly from the treetops there |
came a number of sharp reports