Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-16

moody ways. | generally had to ge
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 kept purely fol
emergencies, and drank all the con
tents.
When / came back he was quite
drunk. This was unbearable, anc
after some high words left him, anC
struck off homeward through the
woods on my own account. We haC
with us four pack and saddle horses
and of these | took a very intelligent
and gentle little bronco mare, which
possessed the invaluable trait Of al
ways staying near camp, even when
! not hObbled. | was not hampered
with much Of an outfit. having only
my buffalo sleeping bag, a fur coat
and my washing kit. with a couple of
spare pairs OF socks and some hand
kerchiefs. walked. while the little
mare followed almost like dog, often
without my having hold the larlat
which served as halter.
As dusk was coming on halted and
camped in a little open spot by the
side of n small. noisy brook, with crys-
tai water opened the pack, tossed
the bedding on a smooth spot, knee
haltered the little mare. dragged up a
few dry logs. and then strolled off,
rifle on shoulder, through the frosty
cleaning, to see If | could pick up a
grouse for supper.
As was thinking Of turning towards
camp, | stole up TO the crest of one Of
the ridges. and looked over into the
valley some sixty yards off. Immedl-
ately | caught the loom OF some large
dark object; and another glance show
ed me big grlsly walking slowly off
with his head down. He was quarter
Ing to me. and | fired into his flank,
the bullet, as | afterwards found,
ranging downward and piercing one
lung
AZ llt HllDl ut hlttltu IL
moaning grunt and plunged forward at
heavy gallop, while | raced oblique-
ly down the hill to cut him off. After
going a few hundred feet he reached
a laurel thicket, some thirty yards
broad. and two or three times as long
which he did not leave. | ran up to
the edge and there halted, not liking
to venture into the mass of twisted.
age. Moreover. as I halted. heard
him utter peculiar. savage kind Of
whine from the heart of the brush.
Accordingly. began to skirt the edge,
on tiptoe and gazing earnest
ly to see II could not catch a glimpse
of his hide. When | was at the mar
rowest part of the thicket, he sud-
denly left II directly opposite. and then
wheeled and stood broadside to me on
the hillside, little above. He turned
his head stiffiy towards me; scarlet
strings Of froth hung from his lips;
his eyes burned like embers In the
gloom.
held true. aiming behind the shoul-
der. and my bullet shattered the point
or lower end OF his heart. taking out
a big nick. Instantly the great bear
turned with harsh roar Of fury and
challenge. blowing the bloody foam
from his mouth, so that ! saw the
CLEAN Of his white fangs; and then he
charged straight at me. crashing and
through the laurel bushes,
so that It was hard to aim. | waited
until he came to a fallen tree. raking
him as he topped 1t with ball, which
his chest and went through
the cavity OF his body. but he neither
swerved nor fiinched. and at the mo-
ment | did not know that | had struck
him. He came steadily on. and In
another second was almost upon me.
fired for his forehead, but my bul.
let went low. entering his open mouth.