The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20

ner. causing him to limp. But this in
no way impaired his phenomenal skill
as a fighter or manchaser, for many a
brave hunter had been manned by
BILL" and an even larger number had
been chased. Whether it was this par
ticular bear that had stolen our hams,
we were of course unable to decide;
and as soon as the wrath of our eXcit-
able little cook had subsded, the theft
ceased to be topic of discussion.
We used to go to bed rather early at
camp. After having trailed over rough
mountain passes all day, with a pros
pectors outfit strapped to our shoulders.
we did not feel inclined to sit up late,
and consequently 8 o'clock generally
found us fast asleep
ene bright moonlight night. week
after the theft of the hams, | was
awakened about 10 o'clock by the
sharp, nervous barking of our two dogs,
and after listening for. several moments
heard a series of deep growls. Rising
from my bunk, l quickly slipped on a
pair of overalls, grabbed my revolver
and then stepped cautiously outside
the tent. | looked toward the commits
sary shack, and the sight beheld there
was enough to surprise the bravest
soldier that ever fired a gun.
Eight Feet in Height
Standing on his hind legs, his shaggy
gray coat glistening in the clear moon
light stood the largest grizzly bear l
had even seen in my life. Backed
against the commissary shack door, his
eight feet of height as he swayed from
side to side. looked tremendous. BY
savagely displaying his large ugly
teeth, he managed to keep the twoNeX-
cited dogs at a distance.
No sooner did he observe my presence
than he emitted loud roar, slid down
onto four feet and started off in the di-
rection of the canyon, the dogs after
him. / could not fire at that moment
for fear of wounding them; so I hob
bled along as fast as L could on my
stump. AS the big brute headed for
clunap of brush in the canyon, 1 called
the dogs off and fired half a dozen shots
in the direction of his retreating hide.
None of the shots took effect, but the
report of my gun aroused the entire
camp.
That's himi That's him!" inter-
rupted the cook. as l tried to describe
the visitor. THAT description fits Bill
Taylor like a pair of wool socks. But
that there toy pistol you got wouldn't
have no more effect on his hide than
la squirt"
Well. we discussed "Bill Taylor" and
his thieving propensities for half an
hour. and finally decided to set a trap
for him the next night. Bear-baiting,
to discuss among lot of sleepy camp
ers. so we all ceased talking and tum-
bled into our hunks.
The next day, deciding to do a little
prospecting on my own account, 1 left
camp about o'clock and headed for 80
range a mile distant. AS 1 merely in
tended looking over some old '1oca-
tions" I carried nothing with me ex-
cept my big repeating rifle, which 1 al
ways took when travelling alone.
Made Flesh Creep
After climbing Sugar Loaf peak /
began scratching about for specimens
of silver ore. had been thus engaged
scarcely three-quarters of an hour
when suddenly turning about, I saw
sight that caused my flesh to creep.
Not 200 feet away, in little clump
of cedar trees, stood a huge silver-tip
grizzly, which 1 recognized Immediately
as the same bear that had attempted to
break into our commissary shack The
night previous.
'Bill Taylorl" I muttered in alarm.
Quickly raising my rifle, took care
full aim at his neck and fired The bull
let missed, but at the report of the rifle,
the beast uttered fierce growl and
headed straight for me-
Having only one more round of am
munition I took careful aim and fired
again. This time the bullet grazed his
right shoulder and the big fellow
roared angrily then he suddenly halt
ed, as If determining upon further ac-
ton.
Having no more cartridges, I hobblcd
as rapidly possible over the Jagged
rocks and fallen trees. intent on seek
ing some point of safety. Let me tell
you incidentally, that running over a
mountain top on peg leg is very ex-
citing sport
! fra inc ah
to an immense bowlder. and much to
my JOY was able to scale it, I did SO
not a moment too soon either, for "Bill',
! had resumed the chase and was lumber
ing over the rocks with surprising
ra pidity.
He finally reached the bowlder and
great was his roar of disappointment
when he beheld my elevated position.
Immediately he started up after me,
but as he neared the top 1 gave him a
sharp blow on his snout with the heavy
butt of my rifle, which SO angered
him that he lost his foothold and slid
to the bottom. There he sat gravely
on his launches as IL contemplating
some brilliant move.
Looked for Safety
Realizing that I had not a moment
to lose I quickly looked about for a
more suitable place of safety.
Not far from the bowlder stood a tall
cedar tree. with dead limbs extending
from top to bottom. Could but gain
its top. I thought I would not only be
much safer, but sufficiently high up to
enable me to signal to our camp for
help.
While "Bll Taylor's" attention was
distracted for a moment I slid quietly
down the other side of the bowlder and
started for the cedar tree. was maxi
ing fairly good progress when my
wooden leg caught in an old branch
lying on the ground. causing me to trip
and fall heavily. There was no hope
of reaching the cedar tree now. The
noise aroused the bear, and by the time
I had got up I discovered much to my
alarm that bill Taylor" was not more
than a couple of hundred feet away.
As my empty rifle served only to i'm
pede my progress, I flung it in the d.
rcction of my pursuer and started he'll
ter skelter over the mountain top.
The situation was now critical. My
only hope lay In the possibility that