Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-21

tough hide Of an acorn fattenec griz-
zly whose gross weight might be
somew here u the neighhorhood OF 800
pounds. As for ny hunting knife.
had ~ II al home What wonder if
as au Irishman .misht say, ! wished
that had lSft myself tllere before !
started
Against ssl this had tne consola
tory assurance that the grizzly bear
never climbs. whicA. as the trees we're
all on tie side OF the bear. did not acd
much 10 my seHse Of security. but
ry principal hope lay Ia the fact that
I was just then hidden by the gully
the depth OF which varied from eight
TO twelve feet. with pre,4pitous sides.
and dry bed. which probably led
down 70 some neighboriag stream OF
water
"Now. thought /. 4 have oply 10
crawl along this ditch, reach TIE
stream. cross il AID bid goodby to
grizzly.
Il had just picked myself M ard
was proceeding 70 carry OUT my piau
of escape when heard a craekuae
and breaking OF the underoruSh which
frineed the ditch and Gy which vas
partly screened frou, view Tbis was
speedily followed by aa angry grDwi
as the treachereus earth gave way aGd
let Mr. Bear with no gentle tRmple
directly down into the very gully into
which | had fallen
Fortunately FOR me. bruin Tad not
only greater fan. hut taabied into
the ditch at point somewhat distant
from my hiding place. and TIE little
ferret eyes did not ~ once lfvrceiVe
me. An unucky stumble. hewever.
which ] owed to a twisted root. lie
trayed me, and he turned and gave
chase.
They have a yery expressive phrase
in California when i person is desired
70 leave suadenly Il consists af buf
two. words. You git My Gears.
when that bear rumbled into my gully
= got and when he toog up the c.tSe
1 continued TO git IN a style which
astonished even myself
When Z first. saw him fall certain
| ly hoped TINT he had broken his nose
al Ieast or even disiocated his great
| ugly neck. but that hope vanished IN
a moment.
"He was evidently not a whit the
worse for his somersault.
! at was no longer u matter Of cere-
mony. sped over the ground Ike .
hunted deer. while my stout friend
came numbering and pulling on behind.
like a portiy old gentleman VITO fears
/ he may be too late for the evening
train. was expecting every moment
10 feel the blow OF his heavy paw.
when. turning an angle of the gully
/ perceived. with no little dismay. That
| the ditch in front Of me was blocked
! by an immense fallen tree. The small
/ er end of the broken trunk. being TO-
ward me. showed an opening wide
enough TO admit my then somewhat
more than usually slender form.
-fbere was little time for hesitation
/ could hear the bears heavy tramp
behind me. moment more and
had plunged into the opening and drew
my gun after me. just as my fat friend
! rounded the turn Of the slough in hoi
pursuit. Running bfindly on. lie en-
/ deayored 10 force himself after me
giving the log a shock which made me
tremble for the security of my new
tenement.
''One or two furious piunges tended
to convince him that l could entei
where his huge frame could not. for h,
seemed TO reflect and finally intro
duced a paw. from whose farreachins
grab ! retired into the inner recesse:
OF my chamber.
Finding that his attempts in thi
way We're equally futile. began t.
feel little more at ease. and wheI
bruin again poked in his great paw il
an inquiring sort OF way ! managed tt
push Il dead duck oct TO him with th
butt of my gun by way of a peace Of
fering. | was willing just then TO hav,
peace at any price short of surrender
"But Sir Bear had, no thought o
such Il compromise. He tore away an'
made the feathers fy with his crue
teeth ard claws in a style which CAV
ne a pretty lively notion Of what
might expect were 1 to trust mysel
within their grasp.
Il had begun TO think seriously oi
giving ny pursuer the benefit OF
charge Of duck shot in the hope o
putting out one or both OF his usi.
little eyes and making him give up th
hunt when. my eyes becoming accus
toned to the Darkness. 1 discovered
faint indication of light behind me.
erawled toward it and dropped on
! backward
'SThe creek was below me. and
dropped into It in moment and push
ed. apparently unhesrd. to the OPPOSITE
: bank. whence prudence. coupled wit
come doubts as to the possibility Q
discharging a wet gun. induced me (
leave Ursa Major TO his log borin
while made the best Of my way bac
to camp"
|,