Year: 1878

One day, long time ago, about the
time when jackson ran for President the
first time, perhaps, I was one day hunting
upon the ridge between Meadow run and
Cucumber run, which tumbles off the rocks
just across there.


had known for some time by the signs
that there was nest ofcub-bears somewhere
in the neghborhood, so on that day con-
cluded that would put in my time finding
them, as party up in Unontown wanted a
pair to send over to Baltimore to friend
who was fond of outandish pets.


You see that it was along about the 1st of
September, pretty warm at that, and, after
walking up and down the ravines, l began
to get pretty tired. Twas not so heavy then
as am now, and did not weigh more than
a couple of hundred pounds. AS said, I
was little tired, and SO, on the top of the
ridge, sat down by the side of smooth
chestnut stump about twelve or fourteen
feet high. hadn't sat there more than
minute until heard something inside the
stump, and soon made out that it was
couple ofcub-bears playing with one another.


Hooked on all sides of the stump to find
an opening, but none was to be seen. Then
l happened to notice the marks of claws up
the side of the stump and l understood it.
The hole went in at the top. l set my gun
against bush, up-ended the branch of q
tree, and was soon at the top of the stump,
looking in at the two cubs, which were about
the size of full grown rat-dogs.


was so excited that jumped down into
the stump and grabbed the cubs. They at
first began to squeal, and then turned on me
for fight. But they were small enough to
handle, and in a minute or two had their
mouths tied SO they could not bite, and their
feet fastened so they could not scratch.


knew that the old bear would be along
pretty soon and make it hot for me if she
found me in the nest, so swung the young
sters into my buckskin belt preparatory to
getting out.


Get out? Did get out? Land of lovel it
makes me shiver to think of it yet. Icould
no more get out of that stump than could
fly. The hollow was bell-shaped larger at
the bottom than at the top-so large, in fact,
that could not put my back against one side
and my feet and hands against the other
and crawl up, as rabbits and other animals
climb up inside of hollow trees.


In no way could I get up foot. There
were no sticks inside to help me mp, and
,oIa mind 7 1ol -, 4
About the time came to this conclusion l
heard the old bear climbing up the outside
of the stump. With only my hunting-knife
as a means of defense, and in such close
quarters, you may possibly imagine the
state of my feelings.


The old bear was not much more than a
minute at the outside, climbing up the stump
but it seemed like a month at least. At
last she reached the top, but she didn't seem
to suspect my presence at all, and she delib-
erately turned round and began slowly de-
scending, tail foremost.


felt as though my last hour had come,
and began seriously to think alout lying
down and letting the bear kill me, SO as to
get out of my misery as soon as possible.
Suddenly an idea struck me, and despair
gave way to hope. drew out my hunting
knife and stood OH tip-toe. When the bear
was about seven feet from the bottom of the
hollow, fastened on her tail with my left
hand with vise-like grip, and with my
right drove my hunting-knife to the hilt
into her haunch, at the same time yelling
like a whole tribe of Indians.


"What did she do?" chorused the whole
crowd, who had been holding their breath.


What did she do? Well you should have
seen the performance She didn't stop to
reflect moment, but shot out at the top Of
the stump like bullet out Of gun. A
hairs breadth to the minute. I held on
until we sturck the ground, some thirty feet
from the stump. Then the old bear went
like tightening into the brush, and was out
of sight in halfa second l was little
bruised by the fall, but that was all. took
the cubs to UniOntown the next day, and,
on account of the adventure, got So apiece
for them, and in those times s. was as good
as $50 now.