Year: 1879

We make the following extract from hunt
ing story entitled '"rhe Big Bear of Wanne-
tola, printed in st. Nicholas for May. The
incident took place in the back country Of Ar
kansas, in the year 1860 and the hunters
were Harvey Richardson and the narrator.
They were after big bear, whose depreda-
tions had made him the chief topic of conver-
sation; and they started out with their dogs
early one November morning:


just at daybreak, we came to a crossing of
the bayou where we felt sure the bear must
pass on his way to his den. Harvey placed
me, the dogs, and himself fallen tree was
in my front, and through its interlaced roots
| could see in every direction. Hardly had
We completed our ambush when a quick
movement of one of the dogs startled me.
But, in q moment, noticing that his looks
We're directed toward the crossing, l too,
looked thither and heard the sound of q heavy
animal sauntering slowly over the sodden
ground and approaching my lair. In an in
slant n pair of yellow eyes glarcd at me- and
with as wide look of surprise as there was
in mine. Recovering myself l fired at the
monster, which appeared like huge, ami
mated black cloud as he rose up before me.
The brute disappeared with the smoke of my
gun, but in a moment was startled by the
report and shock Of a second discharge. The
other load of my gun had been accidentally
exploded. Looking in the direction that the
bear had taken, saw lie had run along the
other side of the fallen tree and met at the
farther end the two dogs, when he turned
about and came toward ne at his most rapid
speed and in savage humor. Then there was
a fearful crash and rush. The black mass
came on, with eyes cleaning, and bewilder-
t,,,, a, Al =.
the sunlight.


was conscious that my gun was useless,
and 80 nstinctiyely grasped my pistol, but
found it hopelessly entangled in my belt. For
II second, despair came upon me, but sud
den rtvulsion arous, every sense and prompt
ed me to defense for life. Quickly drawing
my knife, it was presented at a thrust as the
dark mass sprang at me.


At this moment, one of the huge dogs leap
ed at him SO fercely as to divert the monsters
attention from myself and make him miss his
bite. He reared, and as he again came down
on his foro-feet and was in the act of going
over the bank, plunged my knife 10 the hilt
into his body, in the region of his heart He
turned and made a terrible snap at my legs,
but at the moment fen backward over a
bush, and so we all went into the bayou to-
gether foundcring in the water and mud.


] scrambled to the edge of the slough, and
watched with intense anxiety the result of the
battle. In another moment, and when the
bear had nearly reached the farther side of
the pool, desperately fighting with the dogs
every inch Of the way l heard rushing
sound and the whirring fight of more of the
pack as they sprang over me. In the same
instant fash shot out from the brown bar
rel of Harvey's rifle. and the bear rolled over,
though he still feebly fought the pack aud
kept on fighting to the the last moment of
his existence. To my modification, an ex-
animation of the huge carcass showed that
my shot had not made any visible mark on
the animal, and that my knife had not quite
reached his heart. Harveys shot Lad killed
him. The weight of the savage animal was
over five hundred pounds. s.-Dr !. r. NGgle,
IN 81 NirhOLns fOr Man