Year: 1859




------~ z.~.p-------


Kit Carson with the Bears.


The following thrilling adventure with grizzly
bears, is from recently published work, entitled
the g Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the
Famous Backwoodsman of the Rocky Noun
tains,


Late one afternoon, just after the little
party had gone into camp, Kit, having fingered
somewhat behind, suddenly rode into the camp
ground, and leaped from his horse, giving it in
care OF one Of the men. With his rife, he then
started in pursuit of game for supper. He
walked on about one mile from camp, and there
came upon the fresh tracks of some elk Fol-
lowing up the TRAIL he discovered the game
grazing on the side of hill. In the neighbor-
hood of these animals, there were some low and
craggy pine trees. Moving along with great
care, he finally 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
DGoh WltuOuL HiGtb lOt soule tIHc, anu D6S9dH
to be greatly in need thereof These ever-wary
animals saw or scented him, or, at any rate, be-
came conscious Of approaching danger from
some cause, before he could reach the spot from
which he desired to take his aim. They had
commenced moving, and in another instant
would have bounded away out of all reach Of
his rife. His eye and piece, however, were too
quick for them, for, bringing, his piece into po
sition, and without dwelling upon his aim, he
sped bullet after the largest and fattest of the
noble game before him. He had wisely allowed
for the first leap, for his shot caught the nimble
animal in mid air, ard brought him to the earth,
writhing ir his death agony, with fearful
wound through the heart and lungs, from which
there was no escape. One quiver ran through
the frame of the beautiful animal, when he
hrcathed his last. The cchoing sound of the
ride-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, when the last faint melody was broken in
upon ndc0mplHtaly lost in terrific roar from the
woods directly behind him. Instantly turning
his head to note the source Of the sound, the
/ meaning and cats3 Of wi!icn le well knew by


his experienced woodmon's ear, educated until


its nicely was truly wonderful, he saw two huge
and terribly angry grizzly bears. As his eye
rooto1 thoSo uolnny,a tba,


bounding toward him, their eyes flashing fiery


passion their pearly teeth glittering with eager


ness to mangle his Aesh and their monstrous
lore-arms hung with sharp, bony claws, ready
and anxious to hug lis body in a close and
most loving embrace. There was not much
} time for Kit to scratch his head aud cogitate.-
In fact, one instant spent in thought then would


have proved his death-warrunt without hope Of
l a reprieve. Messrs Bruin evidently considered
4 their domain most unjustly intruded upon
e Kit required no second thought to perceive that
t The monarchs of the American forest were un-
r appeasably angry, and were fast nearing him


with mighty stride. Dropping his rifle, the


little leadcn bullet of which would now have


been worth to him its weight in gold if it could
q by some magic wand have been transferred from
. the heart Of the elk back into its breech he
v bounded from his position in close imitation o
+ the elk but with better success The trees
Q he hoped and prayed, as he fairly flew over the
$ ground, with the bears hot in chase, for one
l. Quick grasp at a sturdy sapling. By good for
# tune, or special Providence his hope, or prayer
h was answered. Graspmg lower limb, h'
# swung his body up into the first tier of branches
"a just as passing Brain brushed against one Of hi
y legs Bears climb trees, and Kit Carson wa
not ignorant of the fact. Instantly drawing
n his keen-edged hunting knife, he cut away fo
o. dear life, at thick short branch. The knit
N and his energy conquered the cutting just a
" Messrs. Bruin had gathered themselves up fo
"a an ascent, a proceeding on their part to whic
70 Carson would not give assent. Carson was wei
10 acquainted with the Messrs. Bruins pride in
T. and extreme consideration for, their noses.
, few sharp raps made with the severed branc
- upon the noses of the ascending bears, Will


they fairly made them to howl with pain an
rage, now kept Carson and Messrs. Brui1 active
70 ly busy for some time. The huge monsters an
:. monarchs of the mountains were determine


not to give it upso. Such a full and fair chase
or and te be beaten by single white man on thci
il own domain This evidently CALLED their ser
:, sitiye natures. 1t is true, the roaring of th
: bears in his rear had stimulated Carson in th


race, so much so, that he undoubtedly ran
- the top of his speed and being naturally, {
J. well as by long practice, very fleet of foot,
oc bad managed to outstrip his pursuers in tt
" race. 1t is true he had made short work
10 climbing the tree, and here again had very il
nocently beaten the bears at their own gam
. and one in which they took great pride. 1t
g, more than probable that the bears were in t
=. good condition to run well. Had it been ear
~ Spring time, they would doubtless have be,
Of much lower in flesh. That was their ov
=. fault too; they should have known that racil


time cannot be made on high condition. Aft


leaving their alternating quarters, they shou


have been less given to a sumptuous habit
ha the table.


in Affairs were, however, by no manner
in means settled. They had the daring trespass
by on their domain treed, and almost within the
till reach and, indeed, to keep out of the way
sus their uncomely claws, Kit was obliged to gat
on er himself up in the smallest possible space al
ne, cling to the topmost boughs The bears no