182 THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 
was necessary, and out he came, declaring that he wouldn’t go in 
for all the bears in the country. So, after each had had his turn and 
none seemed to desire the mix-up in a cave with a huge bear, it fell 
to Cecil’s lot to oust the creature. Although acknowledging that he 
felt a little shaky, he took only the torch with him. Instructing Bill to 
hand in his old “Queen Ann,” he crawled in. After fixing the torch 
in the crevice in the rocks, he took in his old rifle and stood still 
till he could get accustomed to the darkness and glimmer of the torch. 
As the surroundings began to show up more and more distinctly, 
he could see a dark object looming up in front of him about six feet 
distant. After being sure of his vision, he raised his faithful old rifle 
to his shoulder. It spit forth a volume of flame, and as the bear fell 
forward two more shots from his old rifle crashed through its brain. 
The other boys then came into the cave and together they took the 
bear out. While they were looking at it and betting on its weight, 
a noise caused Bill to look at the opening of the cave just in time to 
see another coming out. He grabbed the first rifle he could get hold 
of, which proved to be Cecil’s old faithful, but not knowing its working, 
lost valuable time, but Cecil was again “Johnny-on-the-spot” and, tak- 
ing it from Bill, started again in pursuit with the dogs in the lead. 
They brought it to a fight in about seventy-five yards distance, urged 
on by Cecil, who, knowing how by firing in the air and yelling to get 
all the fighting blood in them to show itself, they kept the bear busy 
until Cecil got near enough to take a decisive aim, so again the old 
rifle barked upon the autumn air, and Cecil saw the bear fall dead, 
shot through the heart by his sure aim and his faithful “Queen Ann.” 
The dogs then wanted to show their fighting blood and quality, so 
they grabbed the bear and commenced dragging it down the hill. 
Cecil put on doubled speed, not wishing to have to carry the bear any 
further than was necessary. So, getting hold of it, it was a tug-of-war 
between them, and only won by Cecil getting hold of a bush and 
holding on. The other boys came down and the small bear was soon 
deposited alongside of the old one. They then took up their burdens, 
two carrying the big one, while the other two followed with the smaller 
one and guns. They started and went to the place where Mr. Tyrell 
had left their baggage. Finding Mr. Beels not at home, they took 
possession of his ranch, and when he came home after’a long trip 
he found a warm supper of bear meat waiting for him, and he deemed 
he had been amply paid for all damages, and made the boys at home 
and the next day went with them for another hunt. It had rained 
during the night, and the brush being wet, they soon tired of it, and . 
Mr. Beels hitched up his team and, with bears and baggage loaded 
into the wagon, they soon arrived at Underwood, Wash., and caught 
the ferry for Hood River. For days they had a new topic to talk 
about at the cigar stands, where Cecil was always a favorite. 

