Wild Western Scenes

by J. B. Jones

  CHAPTER II.

  Boone hunts the bear--Hounds and terriers--Sneak Punk, the Hatchet-face--Another stump--The high passes--The bear roused--Thechase--A sight--A shot--A wound--Joe--His meditations--His friend,the bear--The bear retreats--Joe takes courage--He fires--Immenseexecution--Sneak--The last struggle--Desperation of the bear--Hisdeath--Sneak's puppies--Joe.

  By the time the first streaks of gray twilight marked the easternhorizon, Boone, at the head of the party of hunters, set out from theencampment and proceeded down the river in the direction of the placewhere Joe had been so roughly handled by Bruin. All, with theexception of Glenn and his man, being accustomed to much walking, wereon foot. Glenn rode his white steed, and Joe was mounted on his littleblack pony. The large hounds belonging to Boone, and the curs,spaniels, and terriers of the emigrants were all taken along. As theyproceeded down the river, Boone proposed the plan of operations whichwas to guide their conduct in the chase, and each man was eager toperform his part, whatever it might be. It was arranged that a portionof the company should precede the rest, and cross the level woodlandabout two miles in width, to a range of hills and perpendicular cliffsthat appeared to have once bounded the river, and select such ravinesor outlets as in their opinion the bear would be most likely to passthrough, if he were indeed still in the flat bottom-land. At theseplaces they were to station themselves with their guns well charged,and either await the coming of the animal or the drivers; the firstwould be announced by the yelping of the dogs, and the last by thehunters' horns.

  Glenn and one or two others remained with Boone to hunt Bruin in hislair, while Joe and the remainder of the company were despatched tothe passes among the hills. There was a narrow-featured Vermonter inthis party, termed, by his comrades, the Hatchet-face, and, in truth,the extreme thinness of his chest and the slenderness of his limbsmight as aptly have been called the hatchet-handle. But, so far frombeing unfit for the hardy pursuits of a hunter, he was gifted with theactivity of a greyhound, and the swiftness and bottom of a race-horse.His name was Sneak Punk, which was always abbreviated to merely Sneak,for his general success in creeping up to the unsuspecting game ofwhatsoever kind he might be hunting, while others could not meet withsuch success. He had been striding along some time in silence a shortdistance in advance of Joe, who, even by dint of sundry kicks and thefree use of his whip, could hardly keep pace with him. The rest were afew yards in the rear, and all had maintained a strict silence,implicitly relying on the guidance of Sneak, who, though he had nevertraversed these woods before, was made perfectly familiar with thecourse he was to pursue by the instructions of Boone.

  Although the light of morning was now apparent above, yet the thickgrowth of the trees, whose clustering branches mingled in one densemass overhead, made it still dark and sombre below; and Joe, to divertSneak from his unconscionable gait, which, in his endeavours to keepup, often subjected him to the rude blows of elastic switches, andmany twinges of overhanging grape vines, essayed to engage hiscompanion in conversation.

  "I say, Mr. Sneak," observed Joe, with an eager voice, as his ponytrotted along rather roughly through the wild gooseberry bushes, andoften stumbled over the decayed logs that lay about.

  "What do you want, stranger?" replied Sneak, slackening his gait untilhe fell back alongside of Joe.

  "I only wanted to know if you ever killed a bear before," said Joe,drawing an easy breath as Pete fell into a comfortable walk.

  "Dod rot it, I hain't killed this one yit," said Sneak.

  "I didn't mean any offence," said Joe.

  "What makes you think you have given any?"

  "Because you said _dod rot it_."

  "I nearly always say so--I've said so so often that I can't help it.But now, as we are on the right footing, I can tell you that Iwintered once in Arkansaw, and that's enough to let you know I'm nogreenhorn, no how you can fix it. And moreover, I tell you, if oldBoone wasn't here hisself, I'd kill this bar as sure as a gun, and mygun is as sure as a streak of lightning run into a barrel ofgunpowder;" and as he spoke he threw up his heavy gun and saluted theiron with his lips.

  "Is your's a rifle?" inquired Joe, to prolong the conversation, hiscompanion showing symptoms of a disposition to fall into his habit ofgoing ahead again.

  "Sartainly! Does anybody, I wonder, expect to do any thing with ashot-gun in sich a place as this?"

  "Mine's a shot-gun," said Joe.

  "Dod--did you ever kill any thing better than a quail with it?"inquired Sneak, contemptuously.

  "I never killed any thing in my life with it--I never shot a gun inall my life before to-night," said Joe.

  "Dod, you haven't fired it to-night, to my sartain knowledge."

  "I mean I never went a shooting."

  "Did you load her yourself?" inquired Sneak, taking hold of the musketand feeling the calibre.

  "Yes--but I'm sure I did it right. I put in a handful of powder, andpaper on top of it, and then poured in a handful of balls," said Joe.

  "Ha! ha! ha! I'll be busted if you don't raise a fuss if you ever geta shot at the bar!" said Sneak, with emphasis.

  "That's what I am after."

  "Why don't you go ahead?" demanded Sneak, as Joe's pony stoppedsuddenly, with his ears thrust forward. "Dod! whip him up," continuedhe, seeing that his companion was intently gazing at some objectahead, and exhibiting as many marks of alarm as Pete. "It's nothingbut a stump!" said Sneak, going forwards and kicking the object, whichwas truly nothing more than he took it to be. Joe then related to himall the particulars of his nocturnal affair with the supposed stump,previous to his arrival at the camp, and Sneak, with a hearty laugh,admitted that both he and the pony were excusable for inspecting allthe stumps they might chance to come across in the dark in future.They now emerged into the open space which was the boundary of thewoods, and after clambering up a steep ascent for some minutes, theyreached the summit of a tall range of bluffs. From this position thesun could be seen rising over the eastern ridges, but the flat woodsthat had been traversed still lay in darkness below, and silent as thetomb, save the hooting of owls as they flapped to their hollowhabitations in the trees.

  The party then dispersed to their coverts under the direction ofSneak, who with a practised eye instantly perceived all theadvantageous posts for the men, and the places where the bear wouldmost probably run. Joe had insisted on having his revenge, and beggedto be stationed where he would be most likely to get a shot. He wastherefore permitted to remain at the head of the ravine they had justascended, through which a deer path ran, as the most favourableposition. After tying Pete some paces in the rear, he came forwards tothe verge of the valley and seated himself on a dry rock, where hecould see some distance down the path under the tall sumach bushes. Hethen commenced cogitating how he would act, should Bruin have thehardihood to face him in the daytime.

  Boone and his party drew near the spot where the bear had been seenthe previous night. The two large hounds, Ringwood and Jowler, kept attheir master's heels, being trained to understand and perform all theduties required of them, while the curs and terriers were runninghelter-skelter far ahead, or striking out into the woods without aim,and always returning without effecting any thing. At length the twohounds paused, and scented the earth, giving certain information thatthey had arrived at the desired point. The curs and terriers hadalready passed far beyond the spot, being unable to decide any thingby the nose, and always relying on their swiftness in the chase whenthey should be in sight of the object pursued.

  Now, Glenn perceived to what perfection dogs could be trained, andlearned, what had been a matter of wonder to him, how Boone could keepup with them in the chase. The hounds set off at a signal from theirmaster, not like an arrow from the bow, but at a moderate pace, everand anon looking back and pausing until the men came up; while theerratic curs flew hither and thither, chasing every hare and squirrelthey could find. As they pursued the trail they occasionally saw thefoot-print of the animal, which was broad and deep, indicating one ofenormou
s size. Presently they came to a spot thickly overgrown withspice-wood bushes and prickly vines, where he had made his lair, andfrom the erect tails of Ringwood and Jowler, and the intense interestthey otherwise evinced, it was evident they were fast approaching thepresence of Bruin. Ere long, as they ran along with their heads up,for the first time that morning, they commenced yelping in clear anddistinct tones, which rang musically far and wide through the woods.The curs relinquished their unprofitable racing round the thickets,attracted by the hounds, and soon learned to keep in the rear,depending on the unerring trailing of the old hunters, as the objectof pursuit was not yet in sight. The chase became more animated, andthe men quickened their pace as the inspiring notes of the hounds rangout at regular intervals. Glenn soon found he possessed no advantageover those on foot, who were able to run under the branches of thetrees, and glide through the thickets with but little difficulty,while the rush of his noble steed was often arrested by the tenaciousvines clinging to the bushes abreast, and he was sometimes under thenecessity of dismounting to recover his cap or whip.

  It was not long before the notes of Ringwood and Jowler suddenlyincreased in sharpness and quickness, and the curs and terriers,hitherto silent, set up a confused medley of sounds, whichreverberated like one continuous scream. They had pounced upon thebear, and from the stationary position of the dogs for a few minutes,indicated by their peculiar baying, it was evident Bruin had turned tosurvey the enemy, and perhaps to give them battle; but it seemed thattheir number or noise soon intimidated him, and that he preferredseeking safety in flight. How Boone could possibly know beforehandwhich way the bear would run, was a mystery to Glenn; but that heoften abandoned the direction taken by the dogs, turning off at almostright angles, and still had a sight of him was no less true. No onehad yet been near enough to fire with effect. The bear,notwithstanding his many feints and novel demonstrations to get rid ofhis persecutors, had continued to make towards the hills where thestanders were stationed. Boone falling in with Glenn, from whom he hadbeen frequently separated, they continued together some time,following the course of the sounds towards the east.

  "This sport is really exciting and noble!" exclaimed Glenn, as thedeep and melodious intonations of Ringwood and Jowler fell upon hisear.

  "Excellent! excellent!" replied Boone, listening intently, and pausingsuddenly, as the discharge of a gun in the direction of the hillssounded through the woods.

  "He has reached the standers," remarked Glenn, reining up his steed atBoone's side.

  "No; it was one of our men who has not followed him in all hisdeviations," replied Boone, still marking the notes of the hounds.

  "I doubt not our company is sufficiently scattered in every directionthrough the forest to force him into the hills very speedily, if,indeed, that shot was not fatal," remarked Glenn.

  "He is not hurt--perhaps it was not fired at him, but at a bird--norwill he yet leave the woods," said Boone, still listening to thehounds. "He comes!" he exclaimed a moment after, with marks of joy inhis face; "he will make a grand circle before quitting the lowland."And now the dogs could be heard more distinctly, as if they weregradually approaching the place from which they first started.

  "If you will remain here," continued Boone, "it is quite likely youwill have a shot as he makes his final push for the hills."

  "Then here will I remain," replied Glenn; and fixing himself firmly inthe saddle, resolved to await the coming of Bruin, having everyconfidence in the intimation of his friend. Boone selected a positiona few hundred paces distant, with a view of permitting Glenn to havethe first fire.

  The bear took a wide circuit towards the river, pausing at times untilthe foremost of the dogs came up, which he could easily manage to keepat bay; but when all of them (and the curs did good service now)surrounded him, he found it necessary to set forward again. When hehad run as far as the river, and turned once more towards the hills,his course seemed to be in a direct line with Glenn, and the youngman's heart fluttered with anticipation as he examined his gun, andturned his horse (which had been accustomed to firearms) in afavourable position to give the enemy a salute as he passed. Nearerthey came, the dogs pursuing with redoubled fierceness, their bloodheated by the exercise, and their most sanguine passions roused bytheir frequent severe skirmishes with their huge antagonist. As theyapproached, the strange and simultaneous yelpings of the curs andterriers resembled an embodied roar, amid which the flute-like notesof Ringwood and Jowler could hardly be heard. Glenn could nowdistinctly hear the bear rushing like a torrent through the bushes,almost directly towards the place where he was posted, and a momentafter it emerged from a dense thicket of hazel, and the noble steed,instead of leaping away with affright, threw back his ears and stoodfirm, until Glenn fired. Bruin uttered a howl, and halting with afierce growl, raised himself on his haunches, and displaying his arrayof white teeth, prepared to assail our hero. Glenn proceeded to reloadhis rifle with as much expedition as was in his power, though notwithout some tremor, notwithstanding he was mounted on his tall steed,whose nostrils dilated, and eyes flashing fire, indicated that he waswilling to take part in the conflict. The bear was preparing for adreadful encounter, and on the very eve of springing towards hisassailant, when the hounds coming up admonished him to flee his morenumerous foes, and turning off, he continued his route towards thehills. Glenn perceived that he had not missed his aim by the bloodsprinkled on the bushes, and being ready for another fire, gallopedafter him. Just when he came in sight, Boone's gun was heard, andBruin fell, remaining motionless for a moment; but ere Glenn arrivedwithin shooting distance, or Boone could reload, he had risen andagain continued his course, as if in defiance of everything that mancould do to oppose him.

  "Is it possible he still survives!" exclaimed Glenn, joining hiscompanion.

  "There is nothing more possible," replied Boone; "but I saw by hislimping that your shot had taken effect."

  "And I saw him fall when you fired," said Glenn; "but he still runs."

  "And he _will_ run for some time yet," remarked Boone, "for they areextremely hard to kill, when heated by the pursuit of dogs. But wehave done our part, and it now remains for those at the passes tofinish the work so well begun."

  Joe's imagination had several times worked him into a fury, which hadas often subsided in disappointment, during the chase below, everyparticle of which could be distinctly heard from his position. Morethan once, when a brisk breeze swept up the valley, he was convincedthat his enemy was approaching him, and, every nerve quivering withthe expectation of the bear coming in view the next instant, he stooda spectacle of eagerness, with perhaps a small portion of apprehensionintermingled. At length, from the frequent deceptions the distancepracticed upon him, he grew composed by degrees, and resuming his seaton the stone, with his musket lying across his knees, thus gave ventto his thoughts: "What if an Indian were to pounce upon me while I'msitting here?" Here he paused, and looked carefully round in everydirection. "No!" he continued; "if there were any at this time in theneighbourhood, wouldn't Boone know it? To be sure he would, and here'smy gun--I forgot that. Let them come as soon as they please! I wonderif the bear _will_ come out here? Suppose he does, what's the danger?Didn't I grapple with him last night? And couldn't I jump on Pete andget away from him! But--pshaw! I keep forgetting my gun--I wish he_would_ come, I'd serve him worse than he served me last night! Myface feels very sore this morning. There!" he exclaimed, when he heardthe fire of Glenn's gun, and the report that succeeded from Boone's,"they've floored him as dead as a nail, I'll bet. Hang it! I shouldlike to have had a word or two with him myself, to have told him Ihadn't forgotten his ugly grin. The men must have known I would standno chance of killing him when they placed me up here. I should like toknow what part of the sport _I've_ had--ough!" exclaimed he, his hairstanding upright, as he beheld the huge bear, panting and bleeding,coming towards him, and not twenty paces distant!

  Bruin had eluded the dogs a few minutes by climbing a bending tree atthe mouth of the valley, fr
om which he passed to another, anddescending again to the earth, proceeded almost exhausted up theravine. Joe's eyes grew larger and larger as the monster approached,and when within a few feet of him he uttered a horrible unearthlysound, which attracted the bear, and fearing the fatal aim of man morethan the teeth of the dogs, he whirled about, with a determination tofight his way back, in preference to again risking the murderous lead.No sooner was the bear out of sight, and plunging down the dell amidthe cries of the dogs, which assailed him on all sides, than Joebethought him of his gun, and becoming valorous, ran a few steps downthe path and fired in the direction of the confused melee. The momentafter he discharged his musket, the back part of his head struck theearth, and the gun made two or three end-over-end revolutions up thepath behind him. Never, perhaps, was such a rebound from overloadingknown before. Joe now thought not of the bear, nor looked to see whatexecution he had done. He thought of his own person, which he foundprostrate on the ground. When somewhat recovered from the blow, herose with his hand pressed to his nose, while the blood ran outbetween his fingers. "Oh! my goodness!" he exclaimed, seating himselfat the root of a pecan tree, and rocking backwards and forwards.

  "What's your gun doing up here?" exclaimed Sneak, coming down thepath. Joe made no answer, but continued to rock backwards and forwardsmost dolefully.

  "Why don't you speak? Where's the bar?"

  "I don't know. Oh!" murmured Joe.

  "What's the matter?" inquired Sneak, seeing the copious effusion ofblood.

  "I shot off that outrageous musket, and it's kicked my nose to pieces!I shall faint!" said Joe, dropping his head between his knees.

  "Faint? I never saw a _man_ faint!" said Sneak, listening to the chasebelow.

  "Oh! can't you help me to stop this blood?"

  "Don't you hear _that_, down there?" replied Sneak, his attentionentirely directed to that which was going on in the valley.

  "My ears are deafened by that savage gun! I can't hear a bit, hardly!Oh, what shall I do, Mr. Sneak?" continued Joe.

  "Dod rot it!" exclaimed Sneak, leaping like a wild buck down the path,and paying no further attention to the piteous lamentations of hiscomrade.

  Ere the bear reached the mouth of the glen, the hunters generally hadcome up, and poor Bruin found himself hemmed in on all sides. He couldnot ascend on either hand, the loss of blood having weakened him toomuch to climb over the almost precipitous rocks, and he made a finalstand, determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. The dogssprang upon him in a body, and it was soon evident that his desperatestruggles were not harmless. He grasped one of the curs in his deadlyhug, and with his teeth planted in its neck, relinquished not his holduntil it fell from his arms a disfigured and lifeless object. He boxedthose that were tearing his hams with his ponderous claws, sendingthem screaming to the right and left. He then stood up on hishaunches, with his back against a rock, and with a snarl of defianceresolved never to retreat "from its firm base." Never were blows morerabidly dealt. When attacked on one side, he had no sooner turned tobeat down his sanguine foe than he was assailed on the other. Thus hefought alternately from right to left, his mouth gaping open, histongue hanging out, and his eyes gleaming furiously as if swimming inliquid fire. At times he was charged simultaneously in front andflank, when for an instant the whole group seemed to be one darkwrithing mass, uttering a medly of discordant and horrid sounds. Butdetermined to conquer or die on the spot he occupied, Bruin neverrelaxed his blows, until the bruised and exhausted dogs were forced towithdraw a moment the combat, and rush into the narrow rivulet. Whilethey lay panting in the water, the bear turned his head back againstthe rocks, and lapped in the dripping moisture without moving from hisposition. But he was fast sinking under his wounds: a stream of blood,which constantly issued from his body and ran down and discoloured thewater, indicated that his career was nearly finished. Yet his spiritwas not daunted; for while the canine assailants he had withstood sooften were bathing preparatory for a renewal of the conflict, Booneand Glenn, who had approached the immediate vicinity, fired, andBruin, echoing the howl of death as the bullets entered his body,turned his eyes reproachfully towards the men for an instant, andthen, with a growl of convulsed, expiring rage, plunged into thewater, and, seizing the largest cur, crushed him to death. Ringwoodand Jowler, whose sagacity had hitherto led them to keep in somemeasure aloof, knowing their efforts would be unavailing against sopowerful an enemy without the fatal aim of their master, now sprangforward to the rescue, both seizing the prostrate foe by the throat.But he could not be made to relinquish his victim, nor did he makeresistance. Boone, advancing at the head of the hunters, (all of whom,with the exception of Joe and Sneak, being there assembled,) with somedifficulty prevented his companions from discharging their guns at thedark mass before them. He struck up several of their guns as they wereendeavouring to aim at the now motionless bear, fearing that hishounds might suffer by their fire, and stooping down, whence he coulddistinctly see the pale gums and tongue, as his hounds grappled theneck of the animal, announced the death of Bruin, and the terminationof the hunt. The hounds soon abandoned their inanimate victim, and itssinewy limbs relaxing, the devoted cur rolled out a lifeless body.

  "How like you this specimen of our wild sports?" inquired Boone,turning to Glenn, as the rest proceeded to skin and dress the bearpreparatory for its conveyance to the camp.

  "It is exciting, if not terrific and cruel," replied Glenn, musing.

  "None could be more eager than yourself in the chase,' said Boone.

  "True," replied Glenn; "and notwithstanding the uninitiated may for aninstant revolt at the spilling of blood, yet the chase has ever beenconsidered the noblest and the most innocent of sports. The animalshunted are often an evil while running at large, being destructive ordangerous; but even if they were harmless in their nature, they arestill necessary or desirable for the support or comfort of man. Bloodof a similar value is spilt everywhere without the least compunction.The knife daily pierces the neck of the swine, and the kitchen wenchwrings off the head of the fowl while she hums a ditty. This is farbetter than hunting down our own species on the battle-field, orruining and being ruined at the gaming-table. I think I shall becontent in this region."

  "And you will no doubt be an expert hunter, if I have any judgment insuch matters," replied Boone.

  "I wonder that Joe has not yet made his appearance," remarked Glenn,approaching the bear; "I expected ere this to have seen him triumphingover his fallen enemy."

  "What kind of a gun had he?" inquired Boone.

  "A large musket," said Glenn, recollecting the enormous explosion thatseemed to jar the whole woods like an earthquake; "it must have beenJoe who fired--he had certainly overcharged the gun, and I fear it hasburst in his hands, which may account for his absence."

  "Be not uneasy," replied Boone; "for I can assure you from thepeculiar sound it made that it did nothing more than reboundviolently; besides, those guns very rarely burst. But here comesSneak, (I think they call him so,) no doubt having some tidings ofyour man. It seems he has not been idle. He has a brace of racoons inhis hands."

  The tall slim form of Sneak was seen coming down the path. Ever andanon he cast his eyes from one hand to the other, regarding with noordinary interest the dead animals he bore.

  "I did not hear him fire," remarked Glenn.

  "He may have killed them with stones," said Boone; and as Sneak drewnear, he continued, with a smile, "they are nothing more than a braceof his terriers, that doubtless Bruin dispatched, and which may wellbe spared, notwithstanding Sneak's seeming sorrow."

  Sneak approached the place where Boone and Glenn were standing, withthe gravest face that man ever wore. His eyes seemed to be set in hishead, for not once did they wink, nor did his lips move for somelength of time after he threw down the dogs at the feet of Glenn,although several men addressed him. He stood with his arms folded, andgazed mournfully at his dead dogs.

  "The little fellows fought bravely, and covered themselves withglo
ry," said Glenn, much amused at the solemn demeanour of Sneak.

  "If there ain't more blood spilt on the strength of it, I wish I maybe smashed!" said Sneak, compressing his lips.

  "What mean you? what's the matter?" inquired Boone, who bestunderstood what the man was meditating.

  "I've got as good a gun as anybody here! And I'll have revenge, orpay!" replied Sneak, turning his eyes on Glenn.

  "If your remarks are intended for me," said Glenn, "rely upon it youshall have justice."

  "Tell us all about it," said Boone.

  "When I heard that fool up the valley shoot off his forty-fourpounder, I ran to see what he had done, and when I came near to wherehe was, his gun was lying up the hill behind him, and he setting downwhining like a baby, and a great gore of blood hanging to his nose. Iwish it had blowed his head off! I got tired of staying with thetarnation fool, who couldn't tell me a thing, when I heard youshooting, and the horn blowing for the men; and knowing the bar wasdead, I started off full tilt. I hadn't gone fifty steps before Ibegan to see where his bullets had spattered the trees and bushes inevery direction. Presently I stumbled over these dogs, my ownpuppies--and there they lay as dead as door nails. I whistled, andthey didn't move; I then stooped down to see how the bear had killed'em, and I found these bullet holes in 'em!" said Sneak, turning theirlimber bodies over with his foot, until their wounds were uppermost."I'll be shot if I don't have pay, or revenge!" he continued, withtears in his eyes.

  "What were they worth?" demanded Glenn, laughing.

  "I was offered two dollars a-piece for 'em as we came throughIndiana," replied Sneak.

  "Here's the money," said Glenn, handing him the amount. Afterreceiving the cash, Sneak turned away perfectly satisfied, and seemednot to bestow another thought upon his puppies.

  This affair had hardly been settled before Joe made his appearance onPete. He rode slowly along down the path, as dolefully as ever manapproached the graveyard. As he drew near, all eyes were fixed uponhim. Never were any one's features so much disfigured. His nose was aslarge as a hen's egg, and as purple as a plum. Still it was not muchdisproportioned to the rest of his swollen face; and the wholeresembled the unearthly phiz of the most bloated gnome that watchedover the slumbers of Rip Van Winkle.