Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-04-02

wbiskey flask, which Kept purely FOL
emergencies, and drank all the con
tents
When l 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 hobbed was not hampered
with much of an outfit having only
my buffalo sleeping-bag. fur coat.
and my washing kit. with 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 Iariat
which served as halter.
AS dusk was coming on halted and
eamped in little open spot by the
side of a small. noisy brook with crys-
tai water. opened the pack. tossed
the bedding on a smooth spot. knee
battered the little mare, dragged up
few dry logs. and then strolled off.
rife ON shoulder. through the frosty
cleaning. TO see if could pick up
grouse for supper.
AS was thinking Of turning towards
camp, I stole up to the crest of one Of
the ridges, and looked over into the
valley some sixty yards off lmmedi-
ately | caught the loo'A OF some large.
dark object; and another glance show
ed me big grisiy 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
At the shot he uttered a loud,
moaning grunt and plunged forward at
a heavy gallop. while I raced oblique-
~ down the hill to cut him off After (
going a few hundred feet ne reached /
a laurel thicket, some thirty yards /
broad, and two or three times as long
which he did not leave. | ran up to f
the edge and there halted not liking
TO venture into the mass of twisted.
stems and glossy foil
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.
standing on tiptoe and gazing earnest
ly to see if could not catch a glimpse
Of his hide. When | was at the mar
rowest part of the thiclzet, he sud
1enly left it directly opposite. and then
wheeled and stood broadside to me on
The hillside. a little above. He turned
MS head stif1y towards me; scarlet
strings of froth hung from his lips:
his eyes burned like embers in the
gloom
l held true. aiming behind the shoul
Ter. and my bullet shattered the point
IT lower end of his heart. taking out
big nick. Instantly the great beaI
urned with Il harsh roar of fury and
hallenge. blowing the bloody foam
rom his mouth, so that / saw the
LEAN of his white fangs; and then he
harged straight at me. crashing and
through the laurel bushes.
o that 1t was hard to aim. | waited
ntil lie came to a fallen tree, raking !
i'm as he topped it with a ball. which
ntered his chest and went through
be cavity of his body. but he neither
werved nor finched. and at the mo-
lent l did not know that had struck
i'm. He came steadily on. and in
mother second was almost upon me
fired for his forehead. but my bull
t went low. entering his open mouth