Originally published: 1871
Genres: Western
Gutenberg link: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68931
Chapters: 16
Warning: This may include outdated and derogatory language and attitudes.
CHAPTER I
COLONEL CROCKETT ON A BEAR HUNT
"I say, stranger, did you see anything of a confounded big b'ar passing this way?"
The question was uttered by Davy Crockett, the renowned bear-killer of Tennessee, as, dashing at full speed through the dense forest, he suddenly emerged into a small clearing, where a big Dutchman sat on a log eating his dinner. The latter stared at the glowing hunter for a moment, and with his mouth crammed so full that he could hardly speak, he said:
"Hooh! vat you said?"
"Did you see a b'ar pass this way, a few minutes ago?"
"Vat kind of a bear vas he?"
"A black bear and a regular whopper."
"Vas he goin' py hees legs, or vas he flyin' mit his wings?"
Crockett stared at the Dutchman as if meditating whether to bring him to his senses or not by breaking his gun over his head; but there was such an appearance of honesty in his countenance, that, despite his hurry, he paused to exchange a word or two with him.
"Dutchy, did you ever see a bear?"
"Yaw, I vos."
"Did you ever see one fly through the air?"
"Yaw—more as goot many times."
"When?"
"I see'd one only next day after yisterday. He had wings so big as never vos, and had von sheep dat he hold fast mit his toes."
Crockett laughed.
"You old Dutch blunderbuss, you mean an eagle."
"Yaw; vot kinds does I means?"
"A bald-headed eagle, I suppose."
"Yaw—dat's him; ef he bald-headed, den he bare-headed, ain't he?"
"I suppose."
"Den he eagle vot was bare—hooh? vot you call him?"
"Yes."
"Den he bear mit wings."
And the Dutchman laughed, as though he had said something extremely funny, while Crockett was amused in spite of himself.
"Vos he great pig bear, mit four legs?" inquired the Hollander, suddenly becoming serious again.
"Yes—a ring-tailed roarer."
"And he hop along so?" he continued, dropping on his hands and feet and hopping along like a frog.
"Something like that," assented Crockett.
"And his mouth open, mit his tongue hanging in?"
"Yes—yes: which way did he go?"
"Yaw; I hash not seen notting of him!"
And again the Dutchman laughed until he was ready to fall off the log, all the while cramming his mouth with food.
There was no little humor in Colonel Crockett, and the round fat Dutchman, shaking with laughter, like so much jelly, was more than he could stand, and throwing back his head, he made the forest ring with his own mirth.
This made Hans Bungslager go it harder than ever, till finally he capsized—and tipping over the log backward, the last Crockett saw of him, as he moved away, was his dumpy legs beating the air, as he sought to complete his partial summerset so as to rise to the standing position again.
But Colonel Crockett was seeking the trail of the most enormous bear he had seen since coming into Texas, and as he had a special anxiety to secure and take it back to camp, he was fearful of losing too much time.
So, without cultivating the acquaintance of Bungslager any further, he turned his back upon him and struck into the woods, making for a point where he believed there was a good prospect of finding his prey.
I may say, to relieve all anxiety of the reader, that Hans finally succeeded in turning over on his face and regaining his feet. He was very nearly choking, however, from the food which had gone the "wrong way," and, when he finally recovered his self-command and looked around for the American hunter, he had vanished like a phantom.
All this was some thirty-odd years ago. The eccentric Colonel Crockett, who had served several terms in Congress, had been disappointed of a reelection and had left Tennessee and gone off to the territory, or rather republic, of Texas, there to join the Texans who were gallantly struggling for their independence against Santa Anna, and the hordes of Mexicans that were overrunning the country.
Crockett was a born hunter, and when he reached this part of the world, he found there was an abundance of game—so much that he was tempted to linger by the way and delay his visit to the Alamo, which was doomed to make such a wonderful struggle against the overwhelming forces that were marshaling against it.
He, with several friends, was therefore off on a several days' hunt in the wilds of eastern Texas. He had joined a party on their way to the Alamo, but while they halted at a small village some miles back, he had gone on with several others to take part in a grand hunt.
In that vast State, as is well known, are found buffaloes, deer, pumas, ocelots, jaguars, wild-cats, black bears, wolves, foxes, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, hares, squirrels, antelope, mountain goats, and moose; besides, prairie-hens, wild geese, wild turkeys, brant, teal, canvas-back ducks, pheasants, quails, partridges, grouse, woodcock, pigeons, turtle-doves, rice-birds, and numerous others—to which may be added murderous Mexicans, and equally murderous and more daring Comanches, Apaches and other tribes, so that there was a good prospect of Crockett and his friends securing all the sport that they could possibly wish.
Starting off together, they had gone but a short distance when they discovered a dozen buffaloes grazing on the slope of a hill, about a quarter of a mile distant, and the whole parted and dashed away in pursuit.
The buffaloes took the alarm, and while yet a good ways off, thundered away at full speed, leading the hunters on quite a long chase. They were in full tilt after them, when the keen eye of Colonel Crockett detected an immense bear on his right, making for the cover of a dense tract of forest.
Davy Crockett had a weakness for bears; he had slain his hundreds in the wilds of Tennessee, and he preferred hunting them to any species of game known. So the instant he caught sight of this monster, he shouted:
"Go ahead after the buffaloes, and I'll chase the bear."
With which he turned his Mustang to the right, and sped away in pursuit of his favorite prey.
But Bruin had a good start and made such good time that he plunged into the wood several hundred yards in advance of Crockett, who strained every point to catch up with the frightened brute.
It was of no avail, however, and hurrying in a short distance among the trees, Crockett found the wood too dense to continue the pursuit on horseback; and, determined not to lose his sport in this way, he leaped to the ground, hastily fastened his bridle to a limb, and continued the pursuit on foot.
His skill enabled him to keep on the trail of the bear, without trouble, until, while running at full speed, he dashed into the clearing, where Hans Bungslager was eating his dinner on the log. The particulars of their interview have been given.
In his great haste, and in dodging in and out among the trees and undergrowth, Crockett had gotten off the trail of the bear and was hunting for it when he ran against Hans Bungslager. He knew that he could not be far from his game and that by running across the general direction he had been following he was certain of intersecting it.
This he did, and, as he anticipated, met with success, almost immediately. Such a large animal as a bear, and especially this one, could not fail to leave a perceptible trail, which the keen eyes of Crockett were quick to detect.
The hunter was deprived of one great advantage. When hunting in the Tennessee canebrakes, he was always accompanied by a number of dogs, that were sure to "tree" their game very quickly and to afford the greatest assistance in the hunt. But now he had not a single yelper with him and was compelled to rely on himself entirely.
Hark! He heard the crackling of twigs and brush ahead—evidence that he was gaining rapidly upon his prey. He bent to the pursuit with renewed ardor, and, although he could not see the bear, he knew that he was close upon him.
On, on dashed the hunter, tearing through the underbrush, with scarcely a halt to turn aside, until a wild scream of agony made his blood tingle, and leaping into a small clearing the next instant, he beheld a scene so exciting in its character that it almost stopped the beating of his heart.
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