Adversaries
Tam crouched low at uprooted end of the fallen oak, looking into the clearing through it’s tangle of roots as they reached toward the sky. His soft dear skin boots making just the slightest impression in the damp loose dirt. Just ahead of him, the buck causiously emerged from the treeline then stood not more then thirty paces away. It raised its head toward the sky flaring his black nostrels and sniffed the air for signs of danger. Then ever so slowly it began to graze the tall grass. This little clearing in the forrest was just the spot where the sun could reach the ground and allow the undergrowth to survive. With silent half breaths he waited for a clean bow shot.
This fallen tree was in the place Tam had chosen. Here at it’s large base that when standing would take two men at arms length to circle, he could stay hidden and wait. Remaining unseen from the entire small clearing. He glanced up along the bark following it’s steep accent to where it was hung in the branches of a neighboring tree postponing its eventual decent. It would stay that way till those branches could hold it’s weight no longer then fall to the ground returning to mother earth from which it came.
Many smells were vivid here in this part of the forest. Strongest of all was the moist earth that until recently had been buried under the tree. The faint smell of a skunk that passed through this area the previous day, and the buck.
He had been hunting this deer for some time this day. It seemed to be wandering, but always in the general direction of this clearing. Stalking the animal while keeping himself always up wind so that the his scent would not give him away, then Tam had moved quickly ahead paralleling his prey to reach this spot and wait.
The buck had arrived almost too soon but then stopped just inside the trees. It hesitated, watching and listening for danger before entering where the sun touched the ground. Tam could hear it breathing. In his mind’s eye he could see its ears twitching in different directions at the base of its massive rack of antlers.
Without warning the buck took two steps forward then stopped again, listened then took two more. He watched as once again it lowered it head into the tall grass. This was his chance. Tam had already cleared the ground around his position for twigs and leaves that would make sound and give him away. One crouching step to the right, knee down to steady his shot, he raised his bow and began to pull back the already nocked arrow. Suddenly a new scent, the bear. “No not now”, he thought. He wanted to look about him for his adversary but no, his thoughts must stay with the buck. With a mental shaking of his head he cleared his mind and pulled the bow string the remaining distance, took aim and let it fly.
With the slightest sound from the vibrating bow string, the arrow flew straight and half disappeared into the buck’s left front shoulder. The deer flinched, threw it’s head back, snorted and then as though it too were an arrow loosed, it leaped into a full run. It’s white tail bounced into the trees on the far side of the clearing.
Quickly placing the bow over his head to hang on his shoulder, Tam darted out from behind the uprooted base of the tree. He knew the buck would not get far. It had been a good shot and the animal would weaken soon. He would have no trouble following its blood trail to where buck would lay for the final time.
Just then he heard a soft snap behind and to his right. He whirled to see the massive brown head of the grizzley as it moved up just ten strides away to his right. It’s reddish brown eyes meeting his just as they had once before at the river. That had been thier first and until now, only face to face encounter. The scars on his left leg twinged as the images of that day flashed through his mind.
Tam had been spearing salmon at the top of a small water fall as the fish jumped to clear its crest. The grizzley, who obviously considered this his hunting ground had come upon Tam unseen and unheard. The noise of the river had covered the grizzley’s approach. Tam had just caught its distinctive smell in time to turn and see the towering creature blot out the sun as it came down on him. Together they fell over the side of the short falls into the river below where the water was slightly deeper then Tam was tall. With both of them forced to swim Tam began stabbing at the beast’s underside with his short spear as it persued but it was no match for the sharp claws that awaited him.
God had been with him that day by offering him an avenue of escape when none seemed possible. Struggling to swim away he was left with the painful reminder as the bears great claws ripped into the flesh of his leg leaving three long scars nearly from knee to ankle. It had taken many days to heal and when he could hunt again he did so with caution. On a few occassions he saw the bear again but more often smelled where it had been. Since that day, when Tam hunted he did so avoiding the heart of what knew was the bears grounds.
Now here they were again. At least this time he had some warning. He knew the beast was determined not to fail again. Not only could he see it in those firey eyes but he could sense it. God left the lands for all to hunt. Why could this creature not understand that.
Without turning his head he broke eye contact long enough to look up the slant of the fallen tree. There was a larger branch that reached out level to the earth some twenty strides above the ground. If he could get there ahead of the bear he could cross to a standing tree to climb higher. If he could just get there before …
With a roar that shook the very earth, the grizzley charged. It’s teeth bared ready to rip into his flesh. Tam turned and with a leap he was up onto the slanted tree and quickly began the steep incline to the crossing branch. The bear jumped easily up behind him but Tam had a good lead. Two strides from the branch, the tree dropped slightly shaking it’s entire length but then held. He struggled to hold his balance then jumped for the branch. Behind him the bear had dug in it’s claw to keep from falling then ripped huge chunks of bark away freeing it’s hold to resume the chase.
Tam reached the branch and from the corner of his eye he could see the bear had covered half the distance. Throwing his arms out to his sides he took quick but sure steps trying not to look to the ground far below. When he reached half way across the tree again dropped an arrows length. This time his foot slipped sending him to his belly on the crossing branch. He wrapped his arms and legs around it gripping with all his muscle to remain on top. The bear roared but did not fall and fearing that it would loose the mountain man again it leaped for him.
The force of the bear’s jump broke loose final hold the dieing tree had. The sound of snapping branches thundered as the tree, the bear and Tam pummled toward the ground. As if held by some magic, everything seemed to slow down. He watched as the three slowly fell through the air. The bear rolling to its side still gnashing it’s teeth, the tree pulling down others in it’s wake and himself falling feet first toward a large rock below. He could hear the snapping of branches, the wind in his hears and the breaking of his left leg as it made contact with the ground.
At the snap time returned to normal. Tam was on his back staring up at the light slipping through the dust and falling leaves all around him. Lifting his head Tam looked toward his feet to see the bear still alive, still bearing it’s teeth but something was wrong. It lay not five strides away but there was a odd twist in it’s back. With the bear still for the moment Tam tried to get up but the pain was too great. His left leg was broken and blood was slowly staining his brown trowsers mid way from his foot to his knee. Just then the bear moaned and struggled to stand. It let out a painful growl then reaching out with its front paws digging claws into the ground trying to pull itself to Tam. Using his arms the mountain man pushed hard to drag himself further back. But, away to where. He could not run. It was over. His back touched the large rock behind him. In resignation he leaned against it. He had lost to the bear. The beast tried again to move toward him then collapsed. It was struggling to breath in gasps that caused the leaves on the ground to clear away from in front of its massive black snout.
Tam pulled the hatchet from his belt in his last vain defense, looked at the bear then back at the hatchet. Neither of them were going anywhere soon. It was apparent the grizzley’s back was broken. Tam slowly laid the hatchet on his lap and rested his head back against the rock still making eye contact with the massive beast. The air was cooling with the coming of dusk and he was far from his cabin. If he could survive the night…