Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-09-03

the cedar, while it had answered the
purpose after a fashion. was not the
best thing for saving back and forth.
1t wore out too quickly.
With the sinew string / would not
nave to use any care for fear of its
breaking. | could work the bow with
all my strength and the cord would not
be affected in any way, producing the
friction in much less time.
There is no known substance for
sinew that can equal it's toughness and
lasting qualities. The Indians have a
way of chewing it and stripping it into
thin fbers, which they use as thread
to sew moccasins and rawhide.
/ hadn't reached the sewing stage
just yet.
Since / had trapped the bear some
thing had been prowling around my
camp at night. l could tell by the
sound that it wasn't a very large ami
NAL, but as it kept coming l became
curious to see what it might be.
First / thought that the meat in my
lean-to might have attracted a wild
cat. Then the idea of bear cub came
into my mind.
Anyway, was bound to lind out just
what it was, so one night just before
getting ready to turn in l let my fire
burn pretty low and sat up watching
for some signs Of the visitor.
On tho other nights the sound Of
r-acnnng rwIgs, nau always come just
after my fire had burned out
Scarcely had the last glimmer of my
fire fiickered away when off in the
darkness to my right came the expect
ed sound. / had almost dozed off as l
sat there, but l woke up quickly and
listened.
Straining my eyes in the direction Of
the noise, I could barely make out the
outline Of some animal 1t was impOs-
sibe to tell what it was, but I knew
it was dark coIOred.
AS if suddenly switched on by an
unseen electric current, two balls Of
Eight flashed in the darkness. The
creature was looking at me too! The
fire was between us, and as a lazy
fame sputtered a moment before fad
ing away could see the reflection of
the freight dancing in those eyes!
Presently the eyes disappeared.
seized a smouldering brand. and, fam
ming it into fame, rushed toward the
spot
was on the right track sure enough.
for l nearly fell over whatever it was.
1t was so slow in getting away that I
managed to get it between the dying
fire and me-
/ was now convinced that the animal
was bear cub by the way it acted.
Through the dim light from my brand,
which was already burning low again,
| saw that the creature was black. |
couldn't see clearly enough to deter
mine the head and hind. but | felt
sure that my company was clumsy
young bear.
My first thought was to catch him
alive.
The little fellow made a sudden turn
and almost lodged past me, but hurl-
ed the brand at him and drove him
back toward the fire. He was literally
between two fires.
As the brand struck the ground it
went out. With that the animal turned
and ran directly toward me. Again he
tried to rush by me. but Jumped in
front of him and stopped him with my
legs.
Then jumped again, but in a differ
eht direction! My supposed bear cub
had turned out to be a hedgehog, and
for some moments was fully occupied
removing quilts from my legs. My
bark chaps were ample protection
against briers and brush, but not
against quilts Of hedgehogs.
My third week in the wilderness was
already drawing to a close. Physical
ly l was perfectly well. l had plenty
of food and a comfortable bearskin,
but mentally was suffering.
1t was terribly lonesome!
The biggest temptation l ever had in
my whole life came on the morning Of
Aug. % | was on my way to the
spring and had just stepped out of a
clunlp of bushes when | saw a real
live human being kneeling down to get
a drink. 1t was man! | was so
amazed that / couldn't move. | was
just. about to turn away and dash back
into the timber when he looked up and
saw me.
He jumped back little and stood
lOO<in0 ut ma knpniV
Then the man said. Hello, Joe" in
kind of heSitating manner.
l had never seen him before in my
life. and an almost Overp0Wering de-
sire came upon me to talk to him just
a word or two with another humaL