The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-26

II
with me az companions,
John Willis and an Inn
fX1 passive looking Indian
= named Animal. Coming
across through the dense coniferous
forests Of northern Idaho we had
struck tho Kootenai River. Then we
went down with the current as 1t
wound In half circles through q long
llluvial valley OF mixed marsh and
woodland, hemmed In by lofty noun
tains. The lake itself, when we reach
ID 1t, stretched straight away like q
great ford. hundred miles long and
about three In breadth. The frowning
and rugged Selkirks came down sheer
to the waters edge. So straight were
the rock walls that It was diflcult for
us to land with our batteau. save at
the places where the rapid mountain
torrents entered the lake.
We had come down from a weeks
fruitless hunting In the mountains;
week Of excessive toll. In country
where We saw no game-for In our ig-
norance We had wasted time. not so
ing straight back to the high ranges,
from which the game had not yet de-
seconded. After three or four days Of
rest, aud Of feasting on trout-a vel
come relief to the monotony Of frying
pan bread and conrsey salt pork-we
were ready for another trial; and early
one morning we made the start. Hav-
ing to pack everything for fortnight's
use on our backs. through an excess
lively rough country we Of course
travelled as light as possible. leaving
almost all We had with the tent and
boat.
We walked in single file. as - nee
essary In thick woods. The white
hunter led. ana | followed, each with
ride on shoulder and pack on back.
Animal, the Indian. pigeon toed along
behind, carrying his pack, not rs we
did ours, but by help OF forehead
band, which he sometimes shifted
across his breast. The travelling
through the tangled, brush choked for
est, and along the bowlder strewn and
PERCEPTIONS mountain sides, was incon-
ceivably rough and difncult.
An hour or two before sunset we
were travelling. as usual. in Indian
0lCs OCSl0C ,tAC DlICAms tAAO0SA AA
open wood fof great hemlock trees.
There was no breeze, and we made no
sound as VIC marched. for our feet
sunk noisclessly Into the deep moss.
Suddenly tho hunter, who WINS lead
ing. dropped down In his tracks, point
iny upward: and some ffty feet be-
yond cav the head and shoulders OF
q bear as he rcsc to make sweep at
some berries. He was In 4 hollow
where tall. rank. prickly plant, with
broad leaves. grew luxuriantly; and he
was gathering its red berries. rising
on hts HAD icgs~ana~sweeping them
down into his mouth with his paw.
and was much too intent on his work
to notice Us. for hts head was pointed
the other way. The moment he rose
again fred, meaning to shoot through
the shoulders, but instead, In the hur-
~, taking him In the neck. Down he
went, but whether hurt or not we
could not see. for the second he was
on oil tours he was no longer visible.
Rather to my surprise he uttered no
sound-for benr when hit or when
charging often make great noise 80
raced toward the edge Of the hollow,
the hunter close behind me. while AM
NAL danced about In the rear. very
much excited, as Indians always are
In the presence OF big game. The In
slant We reached the hollow and look
cd down into 1t from the low bank on
which We stood we saw by the sway
ing Of the tall plants that the bear
was coming our way. The hunter was
standing some ten feet distant hem
lock trunk being between us; and the
next moment the bear sprang clean up
the bank the other side Of the hem
lock, and almost within arms length
Of my companion. do not think he
had intended to charge: he was prob
ably confused by the bullet through
his neck. and had by chance blundcred
out OF the hollow In our direction: but
when be saw the hunter 80 close he
turned for him, his hair bristling and
his teeth showing. The man had no
cartridge in his weapon. and with his
pack on could not have used 1t any
how: and for moment 1t looked as X
he stood fair chance Of being hurt.
Al the benst sprang out Of the hollow
he poised for q second on the edge OF
the bunk to recover his balance. givins
me 4 beautiful shot. as he stood side.
ways to me; the bullet struck between
the eye and ear, and he fell % II hit
with pole axe.
Our prize was large black bear,
with two curious brown streaks down
hin back. one on each side the spine
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