The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-11

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On the ground, while the gray weather
boded q storm. My camp was in q
bleak. wind-swept valley, high among
the mountains which form the divide
between the head-waters Of the Salmon
and Clarke's Fork OF the Columbia.
At dawn l rose and shook myself free
Of the buffalo robe, coated with hoar-
FROST The ashes Of the fire were life
less; In the dim morning the air was
bitter cold. did not linger moment,
but snatched up my rife. pulled on my
fur cap and gloves, and strobe OF up
4 side ravine: as walked ate some
mouthfuls Of venison. left over from
supper.
Two hours Of toll up the steep noun
tain brought me to the top of a spur.
The sun had risen. but was hidden be-
hind bank Of snllen clouds. On the
divide halted. and gazed out over a
vast landscape. inconceivably wild and
dismal For two hours l walked on
wards across the ridges and valleys.
Then among some scattered spruces,
where the snow lay to the depth of
half a foot, suddenly came on the
fresh broad trail of grisly. The
brute was evidently roaming restlessly
about In search Of winter den. but
willing. III passing. to pick up any
food that lay handy. At once l took
the trail. travelling above and to one
side. and keeping a sharp lookout
ahead. The bear was going across
wind. and this made my task easy. !
walked rapidly. though cautiously.
At last. peering cautiously over q
ridge crowned with broken rocks, !
saw my quarry. big. burly bear. with
silvered fur. He had halted on an
open hillside, and was busily digging
up the caches Of some rock gophers OF
squirrels. He seemed absorbed In his
work, and the stalk was easy. Slip
ping quietly back. l ran towards the
end Of the spur. and In ten minutes
struck 4 ravine. OF which one branch
ran past within seventy yards Of where
the bear was working. In this ravine
evergreens, affor1ing good cover. al
though In one or two places had t
lie down and crawl through the snow
When reached the point for which
was aiming. the bear. had just finished
roofing. and was starting OF. A slight
whistle brought him to a standstill
and drew bead behind his shoulder
and low down. resting the rife across
the crooked branch Of dwarf spruce
Ing no sound. but the thick spatter Of
blood splashes. showing clear on the
white snow. betrayed the mortal ma
ture Of the wound. For some minute.
followed the trail: and then. topping
ridge. l saw the dark bulk lyine
motionless In snow drift at the foo,
Of q low rock-wan down which he had
tumbled.
One day while camped near the Bit
ter Root Mountains In Montana found
that bear had been feeding on the
carcass OF moose which lay some i've
miles from the little open glade IN
which my tent was pitched. and |
made up my mind to try to get shot
1t It that afternoon. stayed In camp
Til about three O'clock. lying lazily
back on the bed OF sweet.smellins ever,
green boughs. watching the pack 20
mics 40 they stood under the pines OF
the edge Of the open. stamping nov
and then. and switching their tails
The air was still. the sky a gloriou,
blue: ut that hour In the afternoo,
even the September sun was hot.
When the shadows began to length
On. shouldered my rife and plunget
into the woods. At first my route Ii,
Along mountain side: then for half
mile over Z windfall. the dead timbe
Piled shout IN crazy confusion. Ate
that went mp the bottom Of vale,
~ little brook. the ground bein
! carpsted with ! sponge of soaks
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