Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

Page 21 text:

THE AEGIS realized it warn't no kids, game I had to play so I went at it kind 0' careful like. The old b'ar and I went round and round in a circle. She stood up on her hind feet and fought jist like a man, usin' them mighty paws of her 'n bet- ter 'n I ever seed any man use his'n. We came closer, she struck a blow that would 0' knocked my head off, but I ducked and at the same time sent my knife into her hairy side. It didn 't hurt her, only made her roar and lose her head. She struck awful blows right and left, I tried to back up, but the briers Wouldn'T let meg I had to fight. I pulled myself together and slashed at her big neck but I couldn't strike no vital spot. Once she gave me a glancing blow on the head, that nigh knocked me silly. The blood began to flow down my face and I know fd I'de been ript. I got desperate now and I most lost my bearin's. I stuck my knife into her throat and when I heer'd a gurglin' I know ld I'd found a spot, at last. The old b'ar must a know 'd it too. She went clean wild and no matter how I tried, I couldn't dodge her paws. My shirt was a mess of ribbons and the muscles on my arms and chest was pealed off like so much bark. After a'nother awful struggle, I drove my knife a'ging I don 't know where but she grunted and groaned. At the same time, she ript me across the face and the blood ran in my eyes so as I cou1dn't hardly see. Things got blurred and I mighty nigh fell. My knees knocked together and I was feelin' sick. I know 'd I couldn't last much longer. I stabbed once more, the grizzly fell with a roar and I toppled over,- senseless. 1 When I opened my eyes the sun was low and my little dog was a liekin' my face and wimperin' kind o' mournful like. I wondered where I was but when I looked at that dead b'ar, it all come to me as clear as day. I tried to get up but I didn 't have the nerve, I must a gone agin fer when I woke it was dark. The dog was still earryin' on, lickin' my battered face and makin' an awful stew. I was jist a little stronger this time and I managed to crawl a few yards. My left arm was limp and when I breathed my sides burned. I knoW'd I'de busted some ribs. What 's more I know 'd I had to get home some way 'cause it was set 'in in cold and stayin' out all night meant freezin' sure. I pulled myself together and crawled kind 0' slow fer a considerable ways. All the time that dog 0' mine ran round me, howlin' and barkin' like mad, the little varmint even tugged at my tattered shirt until he ript it clean off 0' my back. He sure was anxious to git me home. If it hadn't a been fer him, I might not be a tellin' this story to-night. Well, I kept a goin' but I was gettin' weaker all the time, and I was 'bout three-quarters 0' a mile from home. I couldnit go no further, I was all tuckered out. - I never knowed nothin' 'till the next mornin ', when I woke in cabin. My arms was tied to a stick an plastered round with some kind 0' white-wash. My head, arms, and chest was wrapt up so I couldn't move right ner left. The little dog was on the bed beside me, and land how he was chewed up. Why he looked like a mess o' sausage. It pears he left me and ran home and fetched the cook. I don 't see how he ever done it, but he sure was a wise little critter. Now 'bout that cub, I'm not certain but the dog must o' killed him or scared him off. I got on my feet agin' in a week or so, and I'm all together now, but no man in this here country can show the scars what I can. I 17

Page 20 text:

THE AEGIS THE OLD PIONEERHS STORY FERDINAND SENSENEY. This is a genuine bear story and was told by an old pioneer, who actually had the experience himself. It was a cold night in J anuary,-how well I re- member it now! The boys were sitting before a roaring fire in a snug little mountain cabin when the old battle scarred native plunged into his favorite theme. He slowly began: The huntin' fever had been pester'n me fer weeks and when the day broke over Black Ridge one New Year's mornin '-way back in the eighties-I jist couldn't restrain my feelins' no longer, so I took my big Win- chester out of the corner, buckled on my hunting knife, called my dog and headed off up Gray's Canyon along Brier Creek. I never seed such a fine day. It wasn't too cold to be disagreeable but jist crisp enough to make a feller step along liv'ly like. The country up 'Gray's Canyon' ain't no ordinary piece o' ground. The scen'ry ain't nothin' to brag on but the briers what grows there is most remark- able. Land o' mighty! yur niver seed such a growth. Why in some places they come clean up to your shoulders. And thick! You niver seed such thick 'uns. I've heard men tell 'bout all the b'ars that have their habitation in this here canyon. Some cal 'late you 'l meet a b'ar ev 'ry mile. I'de always laughed at 'em but the further I went that mornin' the more stock I took in their sayin 's. It sure was a real b'ar country and I was watchin' close. 'II Wasn't exactly surprised when my dog growled and the hair went up on his back. He looked so durn much like a porcupine, that I jist had to chuckle a little, but I remembered and threw a shell into place and waited. Then I hear 'd a rustlin' in the briers and when a bald face grizzly and her cub comes into view I'll have to admit I was jist a little nervous, and a cold chill up my back sent my own hair on end. I sure was serious now and I planned in a hurry. I know 'd thet grizzlys' was hard to kill so I decided to wait till the old b'ar was right close and then I'd have a dead sure aim and the soft nose bullet would do the work. The cub didn 't bother me much, I know 'd I could tend ta' him all right if I could jist git his mammy out 0' the way. When the old b'ar spied us, she growls kind o' vicious like and makes a bee line fer us at a right smart pace. I had a bead on a little spot between her eyes, she warn't mor'n three yards away now, I pulled the trigger but the b'ar niver stopped. It seems queer but that there gun niver went off. I was jist a throwin' a'nother shell into place, but it warn't no use. The old b'ar was upon me now and madder than a hornet. VVith one awful sweep of her mighty paw, she knocked that gun clean out of my hands, as if I 'de been a baby, and sent it a sailin'. I he'rd it light over in the brambles but there wasn't no use tryin' to git it, the briers was too thick. 'Before that b'ar had time to think, I had my long knife in my hand and was ready to do battle. If it hadn't been fer my dog I'de a had two b'ars to fight instead a' one. As it was the little rascal pil 'd on that cub jist as if he'd been a real dog, and kept him occupied, that was all what was nec'ary. The big grizzly was ravin' mad now and looked at me out them red eyes 0' her'n jist like a lunatic might look at you when he's got his hands on your throat. I 16

Page 22 text:

THE AEGIS He concluded his story by showing us the marks of the blows which We examined carefully. He even went into detail and retold part of his story when we commented on a scar of extraordinary size. It has always bee11 a wonder to me that he ever lived, but when he told his story that night he was perfectly well and as strong as ever. THAT 'S BASKET-BALL ERNEST MILLER. The players come upon the floor, Each team with heroes one or more. They step around so proud and gay, Tossing baskets from every way And practice the art of basketry, Till the whistle blows for the big melee, The boys are off, they begin to mix, Till the score now stands just six to six. Bones are cracked, muscles strained, Some are winded, others maimed. The game is going with rush and vim, You smash and jump all over them. Then, while a ball you strive to hold, Some unseen foeman strikes you cold Now the Ref with one shrill blast May,- perhaps, -take him to task. The battle rages here and there, Each player striving with utmost care To place the ball right in the net, A task quite tedious you may bet. It lights on the basket, then off it careens Amid the shouts of the basket-ball fiends. The score now stands bare nine to nine, One basket sure would look right fine. A foul is called, the throw is muffed, Both sides are looking slightly Hruffed. The girls are begging for more scores, The boys are rocking all three floors. We have a chance, we have the ball, One starts to throw and is seen to fall. The timer with lordly grace and ease Is holding the pistol on his knees. 18