Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-22
JIM'S GOOD TRADE.
Paid Youngster to Swap His Pig
for the Bear.
Bruins Eagerness for a Pork Dinner
Proved His Undoing When OLD
MuzzIe-Loader Really Got
Into Action.

In return for helping his GRANDPA
Their one summer and fall on his bush
farm, Jim Holland had received a pig
which he had taken special pains to
fatten. One day when he was alone he
heard great sQuealing and came out
just in time to see bear carrying his
pig into the bush. Rushing back, he
seized his grandfather's muzzle-loader
and hurried out. He picked up his
hand-ax and stuck it in his belt, and
as he ran to the bush his dog Joined
him.
The porker, which weighed about
one hundred pounds, was making
kick for his life and objecting so
strenuously to the manner of his re-
moval that the bear was not making
very rapid progress. When Jim was
near enough he stopped, took aim and
pulled. But the old gun did not go
If; either the cap was useless or the
powder was damp. Sending his dog
after the bear, Jim dropped the gum,
seized the ak and hurried on to see
what he could do. The dog rushed In
anC nipped a hind leg. The bear
swung round and snapped at the dog,
then hurried on, clinging tightly to his,
prize. At that moment Jim ran up and
Lit the robber with his ak. At the
same time the dog rushed in on the.
farther side and nipped the bear again
in the tender part of his leg. AS the
lear swung round upon his little tor.
mentor, Jim saw his chance and got
n another blow with his ak, which
caused the beast to shake his head saw
agely.
Apparently the bear was determined
that, even if he had to give up his
booty, he would see that it was of no,
Service to Jim, for with one blow of
his powerful paw he disemboweled the
pig. He then threw it from him and.
made off through the woods.
In great disappointment and anger,
at the loss of his pig, Jim called his
dog, got the gun and went home. When
his grandfather returned that evening
he told him what had happened.
THAT old bear will be back for the
pig tomorrow" said his grandfather.
You'd better be on hand and get him."
"How" asked Jim.
"Why, with the gun, of course" said
the old gentleman tersely.
81 tried your gun on him today, but
it wouldn't go off," said Jim.
"That is one of the best guns in this
country, even if it is an old-timer,"
said his grandfather sharply. This.
was not the first time his ancient
gun had been condemned by a new
generation.
The old gentleman pulled out the
charge, carefully reloaded the gun and
told Jim that it was all right.
Early the next morning Jim climbed
a tree near his dead pig and waited.
The morning passed and there was no
sign of the bear, but at about the time.
when he had appeared on the day be-
fore he came cautiously through the
woods and approached the pig. jim
took careful aim at the spot just be-
hind the fore shoulder and fired. The
old gun did its work faithfully this
time.
When his grandfather heard the gun
go off he hurried to the spot. He found
Jim dancing around his bear.
He's big one, jim; bigger than L
thought" said the old gentleman. you
were lucky to get him at one crack
Meat and fat and hide, he's worth more
than four pigs"
1t required a team and a stone boat
to get Jim's prize home.-YOuth's Com.
panion.