CHAPTER XVI.
UP A TREE.
The race between the Yankee and the bear was an exciting one, to theformer at least. He was fleet of foot, and in a hundred yards' dashwould have won without great difficulty; but in wind and endurance thegrizzly excelled him. So, as the race continued, Mr. Onthank, lookingback from time to time, was painfully conscious that his enemy wasgaining upon him. The perspiration came out upon his face in largedrops, and he panted painfully. He felt that the chances were againsthim, and he could almost feel in advance the fatal hug which wouldslowly press the life out of him. As he felt his strength failing helooked around him despairingly. Just before him was a moderate-sizedtree. Though he knew that bears can climb, he gathered his remainingstrength, seized a low hanging branch, and swung himself up just intime to avoid his persistent foe, who was close upon his heels. He didnot tarry where he was, but climbed higher up, until from a height oftwenty feet he could look down upon the bear.
Bruin looked up placidly, but did not begin to climb at once. Probablyhe was fatigued with his race. Moreover he knew that his intended victimcould not get away. The latter was emphatically and literally "treed."The bear sat upon his haunches and complacently regarded the Yankee.
Ebenezer Onthank made himself as comfortable as he could under thecircumstances. He was by no means easy in mind, however. He was "holdingthe fort," it is true; but the enemy was in force outside, and evidentlyintended to remain. Worse still, he would probably after a while climbthe tree, and this would bring matters to a crisis.
"You pesky critter! Why don't you go along about your business?"exclaimed the unhappy adventurer, shaking his fist at the foe.
Bruin deigned no reply, but continued to survey him with steady,unwinking eyes.
"If I only had a gun, I'd pepper you," continued Ebenezer. "I shouldlike to put a bullet into that impudent eye of yours."
Though the bear had never received an English education, his instinctprobably enabled him to understand the feelings of his intended victim,but he remained as placid as ever.
So an hour passed. At the end of that time the situation remainedunchanged. The unfortunate Yankee was getting hungry, as well as tiredof his somewhat constrained position. Bears probably have more patiencethan the human family, for Bruin had scarcely moved, except occasionallyto wag his great head. He felt that in the game that was being played itwas his adversary's turn to make the next move.
"I wish Tom and the Scotchman would find me out," thought Onthank. "Whaton earth makes them sleep so late?" he continued, irritably. "They mustbe naturally lazy."
He may be excused for feeling irritated, though there was no particularreason to expect his two friends to curtail their hours of slumberbecause he had done so. But he was not in a position where it is easy tobe reasonable, and in his situation every minute seemed to him as longas five.
Meanwhile, in the camp, a mile away, Tom and Ferguson had awakened.
"How did you sleep, Tom?" asked the Scotchman.
"Tip-top. Did you rest well?"
"I have a gift of sleep," replied Ferguson. "But where is our Yankeefriend?"
"I suppose he has taken an early walk," said Tom. "He will be backbefore long, I guess. We'd better not wait breakfast for him. I'm hungryfor one."
The two friends proceeded to break their fast, washing down the ratherstale provisions with water from a spring near by.
"I wish it were coffee," said Tom. "I'm tired of cold water."
"Doubtless the coffee would be more gratifying to the palate, Tom; butit's likely the water is better for the health."
"I suppose you would refuse a cup of hot coffee, Mr. Ferguson, if itwere offered you," said Tom, smiling.
"I don't say that, Tom. I would risk its effect upon my health for once.But, as we haven't got it, we may as well make the best of what wehave."
Soon after their simple meal, which did not consume much time, Tomsuggested to his companion that they set out in search of Mr. Onthank.He did not suspect that their missing companion was in trouble, but hethought that it would be pleasant to take a walk.
"You can go, if you like, Tom," said Ferguson, with characteristiccaution. "I will remain behind to look after the camp."
"All right, Mr. Ferguson. I'll soon be back."
"Don't go too far away, my lad; and mind your bearings, so that you canfind your way back."
"Never fear, Mr. Ferguson. It wouldn't be very easy to be lost here.I'll keep my eyes open, and bring Mr. Onthank back with me if I see himanywhere."
Ferguson sat down, and indulged himself in reading, probably for thehundredth time, Walter Scott's Marmion, of which he had a small pocketedition; while Tom went on his way.
A fortunate chance directed our hero by an almost straight course to thevery tree where Ebenezer Onthank was still perched with the grizzlystanding guard beneath. From time to time he looked about him anxiously,in the hope of seeing the approach of one of his travelling companions.
It was with a feeling of joy, not wholly unmingled with anxiety, that hedescried Tom descending a hillock not many rods away. As yet it wasevident that our hero had not caught sight of the bear and his prisoner.It was very necessary to put him on his guard.
"Tom!" shouted Mr. Onthank, at the top of his voice.
Tom heard the call in spite of the distance, and looked about him, butdid not immediately catch sight of the speaker. It did not occur to himto look upwards.
"Tom!" shouted the Yankee again. "Here I am. Look up in the tree."
That time Tom's glance detected his companion, and, not yet havingdiscovered the bear, he was led to wonder why Mr. Onthank had climbedthe tree. As he was advancing incautiously, Onthank shouted again,"There's a cursed grizzly under the tree. Don't come too near."
Tom saw the bear, and he paused suddenly. He was startled in truth, forhe had been long enough in California to be aware that it was adangerous beast.
"Isn't Ferguson with you?" asked Onthank, anxiously, for he knew that aboy of sixteen, even if armed, was no match for the king of theCalifornia sierras.
"No, he's behind in the camp," shouted Tom, in reply.
By this time the bear became aware that there was a second intruderwithin his precincts. He turned his head deliberately and surveyed ourhero. It is not within the range of the author to read the thoughts of agrizzly, but, from the indifference with which he turned away andresumed his watch, it may be inferred that he considered Tom too smallgame to merit his attention. This was rather satisfactory to our younghero, who was not ambitious to come in close quarters with so formidablean antagonist.
Startled as he was, Tom maintained his ground. He wanted to helpOnthank; but he did not know how to do it.
"What can I do to help you, Mr. Onthank?" shouted Tom.
"Blamed if I know," answered the Yankee, helplessly. "I wish Fergusonwere here. It won't do for you to attack the beast single-handed."
"Shall I go back for Ferguson?" asked Tom.
"I don't know; how far away is the camp?"
"It must be as much as a mile."
"While you are away the brute may take it into his head to climb thetree, and then I am gone up."
"Haven't you any weapon?"
"No."
"I'll fire at the bear if you say so."
"It would be of no use. If you missed, or only grazed him, he would makefor you."
"I wish you had my rifle," said Tom.
"So do I. I'd let him have it straight in the eye. Have you hadbreakfast?"
"Yes."
"I'm as hungry as a bear--as this bear who probably wants me for hisbreakfast. O Tom, if I was only back at Green Mountain Mills once more,I'd be content to live and die there, and all the gold in Californiawouldn't bring me out here again."
Tom stood silent and perplexed. While he was considering whether hecould do anything to help his friend, the bear slowly rose, approachedthe tree, and, grasping it between his paws, prepared to climb. He wasevidently tired of waiting.
&nbs
p; "He's coming, Tom!" shouted Onthank. "O Lord, what shall I do?"