The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-25

merely tn add vigor and sp"ed tn tho
hcar'- rstr.at. and tho fleeing animal
was soon out of sight. it, cnurS" lying
toward the High Knob. Resides IN" trail
left 10y the footprints ~ the hear its course
was marked nv bloodstainS in tho snow.
showing that Br,Iin had been we'll hit by
ShaTsr's bullet.
The tracks led to the south 81 the Knob.
wher. they entered CienS, laurel thicket.
Hazcn and ShalTer forced their way into
the thicket and through it Ia an open
space where n large h.mlock tree had
fallen. the roots Of which had torn out
great quantity % earth AZ the side Of
hig rock. where the big tree had stood.
forming a deep and dark cavern.
The mouth 81 this cave was covered nv
hamlock boughs. which had plainly been
placed in position by whatever was
occupying the cavern. and m" two woods
men knew that il meant bear So they
werc surprised again. Not because II
meant bear in the cavern. hut hecaus"
il didn't mean the bear they had been
following The trucks of that hear
passed right on by the cavern
A ther. were no tracks in tho snow
showing that a bear had gone into that
refuge beneath the hemlock roots
il was plain that the ona that had
don. il had done 50 in advanc" Of the
storm, and so was undoubtedly then in
the enjoyment Of the first stages of its
winters nap. Hazen and Shaff"r by and
nv looked about them 20 settle upon some
plan nv which the holed up bear might be
most effectually reused from it, nap and
forced out 81 its cover
I'm tell Won what we'll do said Bert
Hszen I'm sneak up and crawl a WAYS
into the hamloCks and start fir" in the
cave IA fur in "a | dare git Then IN
hack out and when the bear smells the
smoke and comes out IN seq what's up
YOU sock a bullet into him
Gil Shaffer said that would he all right
and Bert crawl-,i in and started the fire
The bear couldn't have been very sound
asleep yet. for Hazen hadn't moro than
got the fire nicely blazing before the bear
start d and that started Hazen before ne
expected And instead Of the bear :
stopping N what was up il kept right
on after Hazen and chased him half way
across the opening in the laurel.
Before IL caught up with him, though,
the fire in the mouth of the cave began 10
snap and crack. and the bear turned back.
stamped on the burning houghs unsil
they were 'cattered in every direction.
and then with "A fierce warning growi az
the hunters retreated into the cave.
Gil Shaffer had stood Their. all that
time So astonished that he forgot 10 sock
IL bullet IN the bear. When Bert found
that Bruin was no longer at his heels
he turned To Gil madden than a wildcat.
What did you come out here fer?" ha
hollered. To see bears play tag with
meg-
ShafYer said no ne hadn't. and that if
Bert would go and coax the bear OUT
again he would shoot the critter full Of
lead as soon irs head got in sight
Bert was so put out with Gil he says.
that he had half "A notion not to coax
the bear again. hut at last he did. and
sure enough that time Gil put bullets
enough in y to lay Il out cold. And
big. black fellow the bear wa, too.
Hazen sat down on the dead bear and
mopped his face with his sleeve. for his
little effort in the coaxing line had started
the sweat as II he had just iinished
chopping down three foot hemlock.
The bear lay where 1t had fallen. only "A
few feet from the mouth Of its cave.
Shlfsr stood two or three PAGES away
looking down At the big carcass
Tn. smoke from the second fra Hazan
had started was penetrating the cave.
suddenly Il savage growl came from
y
ont rushed another big bear Hazcn was
on MS feet IN an instant. but not coon
enough Ia get out III the way of this
unexpected hear Hazen stood between
SnIffer and the new bear. and Sha'i"r
didn't dare fire.
Before either Of the hunters had time to
think what To do the bear had HaZen by
IN" shoulders with his big forrpaws and =
fight was on Before ShaiTer could get
his hunting axe out and find an opening
To- get a whack ~ III" bear tn" bear and
Hazan had pitched and tossed and tumbl,,d
over all the open space there was to pitch
and toss and tumble around on in those
la'.r.ls and blood and fur and clothes and
hair were scattered about promisCuously.
Then ~ last Shaffar got his opaning and
by several well directed taps with his
axe mad" n" bear quit and saved IIaZsn
for future reference
II took quite spell Shasrar said. IN
ratch IIaz"n no in any Kind Of shape.
but ne wasn'' scrambled a. much a. a
follow had 4 night to expect after such a
circus with bear While Hazen was
getting hia wind and resting up Shaffer
determined 70 solve a problem that ms
long been disturbing backwoods iheor-
izers and Savants. at least IN Pike county
They say that bears don't eat nothin'
all winter long after holm up said
Shafyer Now here's n good chanc.,
To find out Il that's II its 80 Of cotIr-..
them two bears didn't have no vict,IaIs
slowed away IN this cave. VI n amt so
then they did have. -ict,iHis slowed away
III Jest crawl IA that den ard settle. this
here question w,!n-t and fer all
so Shaffer worked his way through the
hamlnck- and laur.l- and into tn" Gaze.
Halcn didn't manifest any interest in
This Investigation Of ShafT"r. AT least
not until h" heard commotion in the d.
r'CtIon " the cave and saw Shlff.r and A
bear com" tumhlinC ont II the iaurrl-
III" bear on top and Sh1~cr yelling for
HaSsn 10 sho; the bear Then Hagcn
became Interested
ShrG"r and IN" bear. which was u
wearing rolled ont into the opening th..
hear swapping and sriar ing and Sha~e-
humping II with his fists and yelling for
Hazsn 10 shoot. Hazen wa- "A little sim
and sor" from his fun with the two bip
bears. bIt h" maraged To g.' hi. gIln
against this, bears head just ~ II seemed
tina, Tn" furious htrl.' chap was Eolna, To-
ohew .>hafer'- ear OF and ended th.
clr.'.r of the bear.
H. u was ShaTer was chawed and cIawad
enough tn maxi. IL interesting and th.-..
wasn't "A word said until h. had rnonu..d
IN. blood on his hands and rac. "A viii.
Their Bert Hal"n said.
What = your ic@". Gilbert Does baar-s