Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-30

by a little brook, the ground Deln9
carpeted with sponge OF soaked
moss
At the head Of this brook was pond
covered with water lilies: and scram
BILE through rocky pass took me into
a high. wet valley. where the thick
growth of spruce was broken by occa-
sional strips Of meadow In this valley
the moose carcass ley, well at the up
per end.
In moccasined feet I trod softly
through the soundless woods. Under
the dark branches 1t was already dusk.
and the air had tho cool chill of even
ing. AS l neared the culnp where the
body lay walked with redoubled eau
ton, watching and listening with
strained alertness. Then heard
twig snap; and my blood leaped, for
knew the bear was at his supper. In
another moment I saw his shaggy
brown form. He was working with all
his awkward giant strength, trying to
bury the carcass. twisting 1t to one
side and the other with wonderful
ease.
One he got angry and suddenly gave
it tremendous cuff with his paw; In
his bearing he had something half hui
morous, half devilish. l crept up with
In forty yards; but for several minutes
he would not keep his head still. Then
something attracted his attention In
the forest. and he stood motionless
&x>,, wi 1Sf1n fn
with his fore-paws planted on the car
cass. This gave me my chance.
drew a very fine bead between his eye
and ear. and pulled trigger. He drop
ped like a steer when struck with a
pole-axe.
If there Is good hiding-place handy
1t is better to lie in wait at the car
cass. One day on the head-waters OF
the Madison, found that bear was
coming to an elk l had shot some
days before; and at once determined
to ambush the beast when he came
back that evening The carcass lay in
the middle OF a valley a quarter of
mile broad. The bottom Of this valley
was covered by an open forest OF tall
pines; thick jungle of smaller ever
green's marked where the mountains
rose on either hand. There were a
number of large rocks scattered here
and there, one. of very convenient
shape. being only some seventy or
eighty yards from the carcass. Up
this / clanlbered 1t hid me perfectly
and on it's top WIS a carpet of soft
nine needles, on which could lie at
my ease.
Hour after hour passed by Ever!
slight noise made my pulses throb as
| lay motiouless Oh the rock gnzing
Intently into the gathering gloom.
began to fear that it would grow too
dark to shoot befort. the grisly came.
Suddenly and without warning. the
great bear stepped out Of the bushes
and trod across IT," pine needles With
such swift and silent footsteps that its
bulk seemed unreal. 1t was very eau
tious. continually halting to peer
around; and once it stood up on its
hind legs and looked long down the
valley towards the red west. AS it
reached the carcass put bullet be-
tween it's shoulders. 1t rolled over,
while the woods resounded with its
savage roaring Immediately it strug-
gled to It's feet and staggered off; and
fell again to the next shot. squalling
and yelling Twice this was repeated;
the brute being one Of those bears
which greet every wound with great
outcry, and sometimes seem to lose
their feet when hit-although they
will occasionally fight as sayagely as
their more silent brethren. In this
case the wounds were mortal, and the
bear died before reaching the edge OF
the thicket.
| spent much Of the fall of $50
hunting on the head-waters of the
Salmon and Snake in Idaho and along
the Montana boundary line from the
Big Hole Basin and the head OF the
Wisdom River to the neighborhood Of
Red Rock Pass and to the north and
west Of Henry's Lake. During the last
fortnight my companion was the old
mountain man, named Griffith or
Griffin cannot tell which, as he was
always called either "Hank" or
"Griff." He was crabbedly honest
old fellow, and very skilful hunter;
but he was worn out with age and
rheumatism, and his temper had failed
even faster than his bodily strength.
He showed me a greater variety Of
game than had ever seen before in so
short a time nor did l ever before or
after make so successful hunt. But
he was an exceedingly disagreeable
companion on account OF his surly,
moody ways generally had to get
up first to kindle the fire and make
ready breakfast and he was very quar-
relsome. Finally. during my absence
from camp one day. while not very far
from Red Rock pass. he found my
whIskey- flask, which l kept purely for
emergencies, and drank all the con-
tents.
When I came back he was quite
drunk. This was unbearable, and
after some high words / left him. and
struck off homeward through the
woods on my own account We had
with us four pack and saddle horses;
and of these took very Intelligent
and gentle little bronco mare. which
possessed the Invaluable trait of al
ways staying near camp. even when
not hobSIed. was not hampered
with much Of an outfit, having only