The Washington herald., 1907-03-31

said Dayy Crockett 20 his dogs. III we'd
only stuck 70 the open trait and not fol-
lowed Oft after that bear we'd have been
home By now What will my good
lQuaker. Master Kennedy. do when he sees
me? Send me packing. perhaps. And ali
because ! ran away TO a shooting match.
and then got lost ike a fool on my way
home"
All at once both dogs gave tongue say
ageIy. the hair on their backs rising with
anger, says the Youths Companion.
whats this? What's this, boys2'
cried Dayy eagerly. He bent down, his
eyes shining as he saw deeply printed IN
the soft earth the deep footmark OF a
bear, the greatest Of all the game ani-
mails in that region.
a bear" cried Davy, "and fresh
Why, boys, what do you mean By leaving
a fresh trail?"
The ardor Of the young hunter gave
courage to the two hounds, which for
the moment had hesitated 10 pursue 50
large a beast They gave tongue now
musically and presently disappeared in
the dense thicket Of cane and brlers.
Davy plunged on after as best he might.
and was not far behind when he heard
the h6arse roaring challenge OF the TWO
dogs.
"Bayed up" he gasped. running on
now as swiftly as his long legs would
carry him. They've STOPPED him at
last"
Took 20 a Tree.
lie did his best 10 get near enough for
shot, but he had at the moment only a
glimpse of a big black body moving
through the cane, the dogs swapping at
/ its fanks and heels. Dayy was TOO good
a hunter TO risk a chance shot, and so
/ he pushed on. Suddenly, as he hurried
oR through the thicket there came direct
/ ly in front the scream OF a woman's
voice At this sound the bear turned
and came back toward him.
4 Seeing the young hunter. the great
/ creature. now in confusion, concluded 1t
would be safest to take 70 a tree. It did
so. climbing the great trunk with a
! swlftness incredible for an animal OF its
bulk. all the while whining and protest
/ ing, half in anger and half IN uneasiness-
The dogs jumped up at the foot OF the
tree, baying loudly, bat the bear looked
down in safety from his perch on a great
limb.
"Oh, you're safe enough now" cried
Davy, exultantly. he could have easily
shot the animal, but was too tired and
out OF breath to hasten matters. More
over. he was curious to discover whose
voice il was that had turned back the
bear. Hello. hello, there he cried.
who are you? Come this way. It's
safe here"
Young Girl Appears.
/ AS ne called he edged over toward the
sound Of the voice, but stiu kept his eye
on the bear, even when he heard footsteps
breaking through the cane. There paused
at sight OF him 3 young girl. hardly
more than seventeen years old. She looked
at him half in fear. half in relief. The
( blood few TO Davys face.
II didn't know, ma am-niss, ] mean
he stammered; and then, with eagerness,
But there's your bear. There he is,
treed, all right
The girl, pale from fright. half smiled
as she now approached. Are you
afraid?" she said
Yes, reckon I'm scared good deal
why. he can't hurt you now; he's up
a tree"
He? oh, that?" said Davy. with a
! jerk OF his thumb Il didn't mean the
bear. I'm scared Of you. What are you
doing here in the woods all alone? Are
you iost?'
No" she replied. I reckon you're
lost yourself, or you'd know it's only a
couple of miles 10 our house. I'm out
after the COWS"
We'll" said Davy. dropping the stock
Of his long rife 10 the ground, I've got
no COWS, but here's a fine bear that be-
longs to me. If you need any bear meat
you can have If. Just watch"
AS he spoke. he raised the long brown
barrel Of the rife slowly 70 the level Of
his eye the bear meanwhile being busily
engaged looking down at the dogs, as II
half stood and half loiled in the forks OF
the great oak tree.
There came the sharp. keen report Of
the rife. and the great black animal
siuEsly sank down to the limb on which
it stood. then clinging with its arms 70
the limb swung half out and under.
gripping with its remaining force to pre-
serve itself. Suddenly, its muscles re-
laxing. il came down more than fifty feet.
turning over in midair. and striking the
earth with a great crash. At once the
dogs were upon the dead body. growing
and biting furiously at their fallen Zoe.
Went Home with Her.
Gracious met said the mountain girl.
now fairly free from her fright. That
was good shot"
+'Humphi grunted Davy. II reckon If
1 can hit a half-dollar at 40 yards I ought
to hit a thing as big as 4oghouse up in /
a tree.
Now I'll go home. said the girl
AgTT &
grown bolder. I'm lost"
Where do you llve?"
Il work at old man Ksnnedy's, the
Quaker"
Dayy removed the bears hide, rolled 1t j
up and swung it across his shoulders.
Are you married MANI" said the girl, /
gazing at him frankly.
'Why?1
''WelI. now. you know, 7 can't be walk /
ing through the woods with a married (
man. What's your manner"
Crockett, Davy Crockett. My dad lives /
over toward the Abingdon road. We're 4
not rich, but we eat three meals a day,
and no man needs more. found my
dad owed Quaker Kennedy SEQ I've been
working out that note for dad
But YOU didn't tell me whether your
a married man or not"
Married? How could / get married
while my dads in debt?"
We'll. I'm glad of that" The girl gave
a sigh Of relief.
"Why?"
"Oh. I don't know"
Not His Fault.
IF I'm net married it's not my fault.
A man ought to be honest. There came
a schoolna am down at the Quaker's. I
lowed 10 marry that girl sure. She told