CHAPTER III.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 top'isonme; 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.