Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-10-15

An Encounter With
Wolves and q Bear

II WIS WlNNNuA lA INC 'AAAf
pioneer days 20 hear near the settle
ments the mournful. monacing hOwls
Of wolves Nor were encounters with
them infrequent often a lone driver
would dash into the clearing. his
team hecked with foam and blood.
and with two OF three OF the
boldest OF the pack still swapping
at their heels More than one woods
man was forced by the fierce. hunger
mad brutes 10 Ike refuge In the
branches OF a friendly tree. or TO de-
fend himself ~ best he might.
One cold. frosty morning In Febru-
airy James MILFORD mounted his horse
and set out In search % a stray COW,
which his father priced very highly.
Keep a sharp lookout for wolves.
jim" called Mr. MILFORD as the boy
rode on from the cabin "Bil Skies
told me yesterday that they were get.
ting bold as lions. It's been a hard
winter. and they haven't had a good
chance at the cattle"
Jims long rifle was strapped across
his shoulders and he touched IL sig.
nhcantly.
I've got the medicine for EN-.
father" he answered cheerfully.
Then he clucked to the horse and
dashed OF briskly along the frozen
road which penetrated the big pine
forest
Everywhere about him were signs
OF a wild. free life. Birds rose from
the sheltered edges OF the road and
darted swiftly into the tangled covert.
Squirrels frisked and chartered In the
tall oak trees. or raked among the
fallen leaves in search OF buried nuts.
Occasionally a great. brown hawk
went whirling overhead. It's wide
wings whisiling through the crisp air
"A black bears been up that tree. q"
observed the boy aloud as be checked
his horse beside a black gum tree on
the edge OF n small swamp.
The tree bore on i;s bark many deep
irregular marks. and Ia one spot,
where IL was slightly splintered. ap-
peared few strands OF coarse black
hair In the top OF the tree were
thick clusters OF blue-black berries.
Here and there the limbs we're twist.
ed and broken. This was caused. so
old bear hunters had informed Jim,
by the bears pulling In the limbs 10
pluck the fruit from the extreme ends
Of the branches.
More'n likely It's the same old
scamp that's been stealth our pigs"
thought Jim. \ believe IN get down
an see how big his foot Is. He's
out early in the season. to be sure"
Accordingly he sprang from mis-
horse TO examine the tracks. which
were frozen in the soft marshy soil.
They we're those OF large black
bear
"Hurrah!" he exclaimed suddenly,
a. his eyes fell upon a number OF dog
Ike tracks. The old fellow must
have had company. He's either been
freed by 81 Martins hounds. or he's
travelin with a wolf pack, an a big
one al that"
Then the boy mounted his horse
and rode on his journey. little dream.
ing that the discovery Of the tracks
was destined soon TO be vlvIdly re-
called.
He had covered perhaps quarter
of a mile when the loud lowing Of a
COW attracted his attention
There was a tense note Of appeal in
the cry clearly the call Of creature
In distress.
Suddenly an answering below
startled the woods Turning sharply
In his saddle Jim caught a hurried
glimpse Of big. bridled bull dashing
madly toward the spot where the COW
was lowing. A moment later a COW
went running in the same direction.
She. too. was lowing frantically. Then
above the other sounds rose one that
made the boy SILVER. II was the bark.
ing Of timber wolves fierce. ever.
breed. ready To attack any
hing that came before them.
The boy thought Of the danger that
wen swift horse would incur In the |
presence OF those furious dog.hends. |
Also he thought OF his fathers favor.
he COW, helpless. hamsirung. amid /
hat snarllng. swapping circle Must
be- fee. or 20 % the rescue? lie was /
ossed between two impulses. lie was
by no means sure that his fathers
'ow was IN danger hut on the other
land he had been sent out to search
or her. and search he would. wolves
lr no wolves. So urging his horse
.wlftly forward. he followed In the
wake OF the fleeing COW.
The course led toward a small pine
ringed rayine. several hundred yards
Instant Before he approached near
.nough to witness the savage scene.