The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-06-01

trail and at the same time attempting
to search the terrain ahead for n first
sight of the bear. Jorgenson and Pet
erson followed not far behind.
Suddenly Haelstrom saw the bear.
The animal, crouched on its launches,
front paws swinging in short, jerky
circles, glared at him from a tangle OF
brush not 10 feet away.
The leader raised his rifle and fired.
A PUNK of lead striking flesh gave
proof the ball had not missed.
Motionless for a moment, the bear
remained poised. Then with a growl' OF
rage and pain, he turned and plunged
into the brush.
Haelstr6m's two. companions rushed
to his side. II shot him." he cried x
.citedly. Follow the blood. We will fin
ish him yet"
Throwing caution to the winds, the
three men crashed into the underbrush.
This time Peterson took the lead. Hazel
strom followed several PAGES behind as
Jorgenson, almost stumbling over his
heels, brought up the e
Making no attempt to conceal their
movements, the three hurried on. Blood
showed plainly on the leaf n WOOD
matted ground. The trail grew more
distinct as the wounded animal moved
more slowly, weakened from loss OF
blood.
Crimson spots led the men around
a dense clump of willows. Slipping and
stumbling on insecure footing, Peter
son hurried around the turn in the
trail and paused, searching for r
ther signs.
A shuffling sound, a short, choked-
off moan caused him to retrace his
steps and look back. The sight that
met his eyes froze him with terror and
horror.
The bear had leapt from the shadow
Of the tangled willows. He had launch
ed himself in a furious attack upon
Haelstrom. With all the agile swift
ness of his breed he had been upon
the man before he was aware of his
danger.
The force of the bears attack had
knocked Haelstrom down, as he lay,
half stunned, a wide swinging paw
armed with long pointed claws raked
across his face and left behind a vel
ter of blood and torn flesh.
Dangling by a thread of skin, the
mans upper lip hung away from his
face. His nose was torn and a great
cash on the right side of his face ex-
tended from ear to breast.
Haelstrom attempted to bring his
gun to bear on the enraged animal. But
he could not turn quickly enough.
Once more the creature was upon
him, his ferocity increased by the smell
of flowing blood. With a deep-throated
growl he again bounced on the helpless
His great jaws opened and exposed
shining, blood-flecked teeth. With a
crunch of breaking bone they closed
upon the mans head.
Jorgenson and Peterson raised their
guns to fire, but they feared to miss
their aim and wound the man. Help
less, they watched the bears jaws, their
strength increased by insane rage,
close over the face of their companion.
Twice the bear shook the man as a
terrier would shake a rat. Then he
dropped the body and stood for a mo-
ment over his kill.
Peterson raised his rifle. He fired.
Once more the smack of lead ball strik-
ing flesh gave proof the bullet had
gone home.
A stiffening flood of strength seemed
to flow through the animals body. He
rose still higher and seemed to poise
majestically. Then his indomitable wild
will released its hold and the creature
slumped upon the body of his last
victim-dead.
With frantic haste the two young
men attempted to move the carcass off
their fallen comrade. Their very haste
defeated their efforts and it was some
moments before they were able to drag
Haelstrom from beneath the great
weight of the bears body.
When they did SO, all hope that the
man might be alive turned to dismay.
The scalp was raked back from the
bone. The splintered skullcap showed
above a weller of blood. In the midst
of a CORY mass of blood and flesh and
hair they saw jelly-like particles OF
tissue.
Hastily ~improvising a stretcher by
slipping broken branches through the
sleeves of their coats, the two men car
ried their wounded companion to Warm
Springs. A superficial examination dis
closed faint heart beats.
Stumbling and Keeling from exhaus-
ton and shock, they brought Haelstrom
to the Warm Springs hospital n
sought the medical aid Of Dr.. Mussig-
brod. But the surgeon was absent from
the institution.
Although believing their mission
hopeless, but spurred by the indication
that Haelstrom still lived, they COM
Wandered a wagon and team and took
him to the Sisters hospital at Deer
Lodge. DR.. Mitchell was called.
But there was little he could do other
than S the suffering Of the wounded
man. He bathed his cuts and placed
a dressing over the gaping wound.
AS DR.. Mitchell finished his work,
Haelstrom opened his eyes.
Am I going to die, doctor?" he asked.
The words fell haltingly and indistinct-
lv from his torn Inns.