The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-01-07

Against all this | had the consola-
tory assurance that the grizzly bear
never climbs, which. us the trees We're
all on the side of the bear, did not add
much to my sense of security. but
my principal hope lay In the fact that
! was Just then hidden by the gully,
the depth of which varied from eight
To twelve feet, with precipitous sides
md II dry bed, which probably led
down To some neighboring stream OF
water.
"'Now,' thought |, I have only TO
crawl along this ditch, reach the
stream. cross II aud bid goodby to
grizzly
Il had just picked myself up and
was proceeding to carry out my plan
Of escape WHOM | heard II cracking
aud breaking " the underbrush which
frlnged the ditch and by which was
partly screened from view. This was
speedily followed by an angry growl
M the trcucherous earth gave way and
let Mr.. Hear with no gentle tumble
tllt'llN 'bNll illb W. kullN ihtb
which had fallen.
Fortunately for me, bru.n had not
only II greater fail. but tumbled into
the ditch ut point somewhat distant
from my hiding place, and the little
ferret eyes did not at once perceive
me, An unlucky stumble, however,
which owed to II twisted root. be-
trayed me, aud he turned and gave
chase.
"rhey hnye II very expressive phrase
In california when person ~ desired
to lenye suddenly. II consists OF but
two words, You git" My dcnrs,
when TINT bear tumbled into my gully
I got md when he took up the chnsc
I continued to git IN style which
astonished even myself
~ hoped TINT he hnd broken his nose
at least or even dlslocuted his great
ugly neck. but that hope vanished IN
u moment,
Gle was evidently not whit the
worse for his somcrsnult.
at was no longer u matter OF cerc.
mony. sped over the ground like II
hunted deer. while my stout friend
like n portly old gentleman who fears
he muy be too late for the eveninI
train. I was expecting every moment
W feel the blow of his heavy paw
when, turning an nngle Of the gully,
perceived, with no little dlSmny, TINT
the ditch In front Of mo was blocked
by an Immense fallen tree. The small
or end Of the broken trunk, being to
ward me, showed m opening wide
enough 10 admit my then somewhat
more lhan usually slender form,
"rhcrc WINS little time Tor hesitation
| could hpar The henr's heavy iraml
hchInd me. A moment more and
had plunged into the opening and drew
my gun inter me, Just ns my fat friend
rounded the turn of the slough In hot
pursuit Running blIndly on. he On
dcnvorcd 10 force himself nfter me
giving the log II shock which made no
trcmbIc for the security of my new
tenement
Ono 90 two furious plungcs tended
to convince him that could enter
" here his huge frame could not, for ht
seemed 10 reflect aud finally intro
duccd II pnw, from whose fnrreachlnl
grub retired Into the inner recesses
Of my chamber.
"Flndlng TINT his attempts In thh
way were equally futile, ! began Il
feel a little more at ease, and When
bruin again pokcd In his great paw II
nm lnqulrlng sort Of way managed Il
push n dead duck out TO him with tn,
butt Of my gun by way " II peace Of
ferIng ! was willing Just then to hay,
peace ut any price short u surrender.
"But Sir Bear Ind no thought OI
such n compromise. He tore away ant
made the feathers fly, with his criIe
teeth aud claws IN n style which CAV,
me u pretty lively notion Of what
might expect wcro TO trust myself
within their grasp.
II Ind begun 10 think seriously Of
giving my pursucr the benefit Of {
chargc Of duck shot IN the hope Of
putting out one or both Ut his ugly
little eyes and making him give up the
hunt when, my eyes becoming accus
toned 10 the darkness, ! discovered {
faint Indication Of light behind me.
crnwIcd toward II and dropped on
back ward.
"Thc creek was below inc. and
dropped into II IN II moment md push
ed, apparently unhcard. 10 the opposite
hank, whence prudence. coupled will
some doubts ny to the possibility q
dischnrpirR n wet syn. induced me h
leave Ursn Major 10 his log boring
while made tho best Of my way bacl
" camp"