Year: 1859

gained the cover of the trees, which brought
him in close proximity to the elk, and within
certain range of his rifle. This care was the
more necessary as his party had been with
out meat diet for some time, and began to be
in great need thereof These ever wary ami
mails saw, or scented him or, at any rate
became conscious of approaching danger from
s.,me cause before he could reach the spot
from which he desired to take his aim. They
had commenced moving, and in another in
stant would have bounded away out of all
reach of his rifle. His eye and piece, how
ever, were too quick for them !; for, bringing
his piece into position, and without dwelling
he sped bullet after the largest, fattest of the
noble game before him. He had wisely allow
ed for the first leap, for his saot caught the
nimble animal in mid air and brought him to
the earth, writhing in his death agony with a
fearful wound through the heart and lungs
from which there was no escape. One quiver
ran through the frame of the beautiful ami
NAL, when he breathed his last.


The echOing sound of the riae-shot had
hardly died away, to which the true hunter
ever listens with unfeigned pleasure as the
sweetest of music on his ear, whenever he
has seen that his game is surely within his
grasp; the last faint melody was broken in
upon and completely lost in terrible roar
from the woods directly behind him. Instant
ly turning his head to note the source of this
sound, the meaning and cause of which he
well knew by his experienced woodmans 5
ear, edu ated until his nicely was truly Won
derful, he saw two huge and terribly angry
grizzly bears. As his eye first rested upon
those unwelcome guests, they were bounding
towards him, their eyes flashing frey passion,
their pearly teeth glitt, ring with eagerness to
mangle his flesh, and their monstrous fore
arms with sharp bony claws, ready and anx-
ing embrace There was not much time for
Kit to scratch his head and cogitate. In fact,
one instant spent in thought then would have
proved his death-warrant, without hope of
reprieve. Messrs. Bruin evidently consid-
cred their domain most unjustly intruded up
on. The gentle elk and deer mayhap were
their dancing boys and girls; and, like many
pretty king in savage land they may have
dined late and We're now enjoying scenic
treat of their ballet troupe.


At all events, Kit required 70 second thought
to perceive that the monarchs of the Ameri-
can forest were unappeasably angry ,and were
fast nearing him with mighty strides. Drop
ping his rifle, the little leaden bullet of which
would now have been worth to him its weight
Of gold if it could by some magic wand have
been transferred from the heart of the elk
back into its breech, he bounded from his
position in close imitation of the elk, but with
better success. The trees he hoped and
prayed as he fairly flew over the ground with
the bears not IN en- ise, for quick grasp at u
sturdy saphng. BY good fortune Or special
Providence his hope or prayer was answered.
GraSpnga lower limb, he swung his body up
into the first tier of branches Just as passing
Bruin brushed against one of his legs Bears
climb trees, and Nit Carson Was not ignorant
of the fact. Instantly drawing his keen
edged hunting knife, he cut away for dear life
at IL thick, short branch. The knife and his ener
gy conquered the cutting just as Messrs.
i5ruin mad gathered themselves up tor an as
cent, proceeding on their part to which Mr..
Carson was we'll acquainted with the
Messrs. Bruins pride i'll, and extreme con-
sIderation for their noses. A few sharp raps
made with tn. branch upon the NOSES of the
bears, while it fairly made them howl with
pain and rage, caused them hastily to beat a
retreat.


This scene of ascending, getting their noses
tickled and again descending, howling with
pain and rage, now kept Mr.. Carson and
Messrs. Bruin actively busy for some time.
The huge monsters and monarchs of the
mountains We're determined not to give it up
so. Such full and fair chase, and to be
beaten by simple white man on their own
domain ! This evidently CALLED their sensa-
tive natures. 1t is true, the roaring of the
bears in his rear stimulated Mr.. Carson in
the race, so much so that he undoubtly ran
at the top of his speed; and being naturally,
as well as by long practice, very fleet of foot,
he had managed to Outstrip his pursuers in
the race. 1t is more than probably that the
bears were in too good a condition to run we'll.
Had it been early springtime they would
doubtless have been much lower in hesh.--
That was their fault too; they should have
known that racing time cannot be made ON
high condition. After leaving their hibernat-
ing quarters they should have been less CIV
en- to sumptuous habits at the table


Affairs, however, were by no means settled.
They had the daring trespasser on their do
main treed, and almost within their reach !;
and, indeed, to keep out of the way of their
uncomely claws, Kit was obliged to gather
himself up in the smallet possible space and
cling to the topmost boughs. The bears now





which they gave vent to their wrath by many
shril screeclfes. Then they renewed their en-
deavors to force the hunter from his resting
place. Mounted on their hind paws they
would reach him; but the blows with the
stick, applied freely to their noses, would
make them desst. In vain did they exhaust
every means to force the man to descend !;
he was not to be driven or coaxed. The
hard knocks they had sustained upon their
noses had now reused them almost to mad
ness. Together they made one desperate ef-
fort to tear Kit from the tree. As in all their
previous attempts they were foiled, and their
ardor dampened and cooled by the drum
ming operations upon their noses, which this
time was So frse.y ana strongly applied upon
one Of them as to make him hchrymate and
cry out with pain. One at a time they depart
ed but it was not until they had been out
of sight and hearing for some time that Kit
considered it safe to venture down the tree


when he fastened to regain and immediately


to reload his rifte,