THE ALARM!
Certain that the hunter was doomed to death, the fair stranger, whose
own escape had been so narrow, could restrain herself no longer. With
rifle in hand, she leaped down the stairs, and made her way toward the
combatants upon the floor.
Colonel Crockett was in great extremity, for, in spite of the terrible
wounds the bear had received, he still possessed tremendous strength,
and now that he had got his foe in his arms, he was bent on giving him
the "death-hug," without any unnecessary delay.
But the hunter now had the Bowie in his powerful right hand; he used it
with all the strength and skill at his command. While his own face was
in such proximity to the terrible snout of the wood monster, he plunged
his knife again and again into his side, with a frequency and power
certainly sufficient to kill any animal but a Texan bear.
Still the fearful gripe of those immense fore legs, grew more rigid
each moment, until Crockett felt the breath of life leaving his body,
and was certain that the walls of his breast were being caved in.
"Fire! quick!" he managed to gasp, as he saw the girl with the gun
standing near them.
"I am afraid of hitting you!"
"Never mind if you do--don't wait."
Placing the muzzle directly against the head of the monster, the girl
pulled the trigger of her rifle.
The most vital part of the bear was pierced. The ball went crashing
through his brain, and with a sort of sigh, his great strength failed
him; he rolled heavily over upon his side, and breathed his last.
As quick as a flash, Colonel Crockett disengaged himself and sprung to
his feet.
"Oh, you are killed!" wailed the girl, as she sunk upon the edge of
one of the overturned chairs, "you can not live with such frightful
wounds!"
The hunter was indeed a distressing object to look upon. The blood from
the beast covered him almost from head to foot, and, scattered over his
face, it made him look as if he had been lacerated by the claws of the
brute.
"Me!" exclaimed the delighted Crockett, "I have not been harmed a bit:
I've only had a good squeezing, but, I'm gradually getting my breath
back again. Howsumever, I've been hugged before, and I've no doubt
such a good-looking gal as you have been hugged, too. If I hadn't a
blue-eyed little wife, down in Tennessee, I'd be tempted to play the
bear to you."
"Oh! how can you jest at such a terrible time?" said the girl, her face
blanched with terror.
"I know I ought to be ashamed of myself," said Crockett, as he looked
down and realized what a plight he was in, "but it was always a
weakness of mine to be joking when I hadn't oughter. If I ain't too
impertinent, may I ax your name?"
"Katrina Duncan."
"Where is your father and mother?"
"I have none."
"What! you don't live here all alone?"
"Oh, no! I live with my uncle and aunt."
"Where might they be just now?"
"My aunt has gone to the village."
"That is a dozen miles away."
"The creek runs near the house, and she used the canoe. She can easily
get back by nightfall."
"And your uncle--I haven't seen any thing of him."
"He is in the woods at work."
A sudden suspicion entered the head of Crockett.
"What is his name?"
"Bungslager."
"Ah! I see'd him in the woods--the jolliest Dutchman I ever sot eyes
on. When do you expect--"
"Doonder and blitzen!"
Turning their heads, the two saw the very man of whom they were
speaking, standing in the door. Short, fat, sturdy, with his round,
moon-like face lit up by a pair of round eyes that were the embodiment
of wonder and amazement.
"What dis mean, eh? Vot hash somepody peen doin', eh?"
"You have visitors, uncle."
"Yaw, as I sees, but when my visitor brings von pig pear mit him, I
vish he leaf him inside de out doors."
"He didn't bring him, uncle; the bear came himself, and this gentleman
rushed in to prevent him from killing me."
"Oh, yaw, and got killed himself. I ish glad to see you," said Hans,
advancing and offering his hand; "dis ish your gun vat I picks up."
"It looks like the critter," said Colonel Crockett, advancing and
taking his weapon. "I see'd I couldn't make no use of it, so I dropped
it and sailed in with my Bowie, and ef it hadn't been fur Katrina here,
it would have been the last of old Davy Crockett."
Hans Bungslager stopped and looked at the hunter with a curious
expression.
"What your name ish?"
"Colonel Davy Crockett."
"From Tennessee?"
"Exactly."
The Dutchman burst into a laugh that nearly shook him to pieces.
"You ish dat pig fool, eh, dat went to Congress and didn't know noffin.
I heerds 'pout you, and dinks you de piggest fool as never vas."
This was not very complimentary to Crockett, but the good nature of
Hans Bungslager was irresistible, and he laughed to see him laugh.
Katrina was somewhat embarrassed, and thought it her duty to apologize
for the rudeness of her uncle.
"He doesn't mean any thing," said she, turning toward the hunter; "it's
a way he has. He got some papers that told about you in Congress, and
he was so pleased that he staid home two or three days, and did nothing
but sit in his chair and laugh."
"He's a lucky dog to be able to laugh so much," replied Crockett, with
a serious air. "I have done a good deal of laughing in my time, but I
reckon I've felt like crying as many times. Howsumever, I s'pose you
want to get this carcass out the room."
Katrina replied that such was her wish, and Crockett and his host laid
hold and managed to drag the huge creature outside the door. He was
pulled some distance away, when the hunter, taking his Bowie in his
hand, ran his finger along the edge.
"Go way with yer buffalo-steaks and venison, when I can git b'ar meat,"
said he, as he began operating upon it. "I'm going to stay to supper
with you. I s'pose you've eat b'ar-steak?"
"Oh, yaw!" replied Hans; "I eats him once."
"How did you like him?"
"A Mexican--one greaser, gif him me to _p'ison_ me; ef I had eat but
lettle I would died; but I eat so much dat I spit him up ag'in."
"Get out! wait till I cook ye a hunk of it; you'll like it better than
any sourkrout you ever saw."
Bungslager shook himself with laughter at the thought of his finding
any thing in the way of food that could please his palate better than
that savory article; but he stood by and watched Crockett, as he
handled his knife with a skill that was really admirable.
The bear was in prime condition, and, after laying his shaggy hide
back, the hunter cut out several slices that looked quite tempting, and
which he asserted would tickle the tongue of any one, when properly
cooked and placed upon the table.
The hide was carefully taken from the entire body, and then the carcass
was rolled into the creek to float away, as being of no further use,
while Crockett carefully washed the stains from his own person. Then
bearing the hide over his arm, and the clean-looking meat, the two
returned to the cabin.
During their absence, Katrina had improved the time to the utmost. The
furniture, except where irreparably injured, had been placed to rights,
the floor scrubbed up, and the fire kindled, and every preparation made
for preparing a meal.
Looking at the bright, cheerful room, one could scarcely believe that a
few minutes before it had been the scene of such a frightful contest as
I have described.
When Crockett explained his wishes, the really charming, rosy-cheeked
girl yielded her place to him at the fire, and he commenced the
preparation of his bear-steaks. The savory odor soon filled the room,
and placing some fresh butter and snowy bread upon the table, the three
sat down to their meal.
But they were doomed to an interruption. The first mouthful was not yet
tasted, when through the open door the figure of a young man was seen
approaching, walking with a rapid stride across the clearing.
As he came nearer, it was easy to see from his blanched face and
excited manner, that he was the bearer of some important and alarming
tidings.