Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-07-11
ell how far. he might bsgffom us. aAllto

tell bow far he might be from us. = .Allto
the rear of the canoe ;wasEofe a pitchy
darkness; in, ,eonsequ uence, Of the screen OF
birch bark. No object could be ndistin-
gpished in that direction, and il was only
BY hearing him that we could tell he, was
some yards off. The snorts. however
were more or less. distinct, as heard amid
The varying roar of the waterfall; and
sometimes. they seemed as if the, >snout
from which they proceeded was close up
to our stern. j.. Z, t,..t=-,s s.s, y.;l,1s,sss.
We knew that il he once laid his paw
upon the canoe. we should either be sunk
or compelled to Aeap out and swim for it.
We knew, moreover. that. such an event
would be certain death TO one or both OF
US, al least.
/ need hardly. affirm that my companion
used his paddle with all the energy of
despair. l assisted him as much as was
in my power with the butt end Of my gun,
which was now empty. On accountof the
hurry aud darkness. I had not attempted
to reloadi it. - -~ss4 ,.E sT
We had shot down stream for hun
dred yards or so. and were about congra.
tulating ourselves on the prospect Of an
escape from the bear, when a new object
'of,dread presented itself to- our terrified
imaginations. This object was the sound
of falling water; but not as before, com
ing from some tributary stream. No
It WIS fall Of the river upon which we
were floating. and evidently very short
distance below US.
We were, iu fact. within less than one
hundred yards oft. Our excitement, in
consequence Of being pursued by the bear;
as well as the fact that the sound OF the
cascade above still filled our ears, had
prevented US from perceiving the new
danger until we have approached il.
A shout Of terror and warning from my
ompanion seemed the echo of one l had
myself uttered. Both of us understood
The peril OF our situation. and both, with
opt speaking another word, set about at
tempting TO stop the boat.
We padded with all our strength--he
with the oar while used the fat butt OF
my rife We had succeeded in bringing
her to sort Of equilibrium and were in
hopes Of being able to force her towards
the bank. when all at once we heard a
heavy object strike against the stern. At
the same moment the bow rose up into
the air, and number of the burning pine
knots fell back into the bottom of the ca
noe. They still continued to blaze, and
their light falling now toward the stern
showed us fearful object. The bear had
seized hold Of the dug out, and his fierce
and long curying claws were visible over
the edge.
Although the little craft danced about
1 ha nr,1 H.,
ed keel upward. the animal showed no
intention Of relaxing his hold /; but on the
contrary seemed every moment mounting
higher in the canoe.
Oar peril was now extreme. We knew
it. and The knowledge half paralyzed US.
Both Of US started up, and for some
moments half sat, half crouched, uncer-
tain how TO act. Should we use the pad
dies, and get the canoe ashore, it would
only be TO throw ourselves into the Jaws
Of the bear. On the other hand we could
not remain as we we're in q few second
VIC should be drifled over the falls and
how high these were we know not. We
had never heard them they might be
fifty fcet-lhey might he hundred J..
High enough they were, no doubt, TO pre-
ciptate us into eternity.
The prospect was appalling. and our
thoughts ran rapidly. Quick action was
required. could think of no other than
to learn sIernward, and strike at the bear
with my dubbed rifle. at the same time
calling upon my companion to paddle for
the shore. We preferred. under all cir>
cnmstanccs, lisking the chances of land
encounter With our grizzly antagonist.
had succeeded in Keeping the bear
out of the canoe by several well planted
blows upon the snout, and Dick was
equally successful in forcing the dug-out
nearer 10 the bank, when sharp crack
reached my ears. followed By terrified
cry from my companion.
glanced suddenly around, to ascertain
the cause ofthese demonstrations. Dick
held 10 his hands short stick, which /
recognized as the Shalt of the paddle -
The blade had snapped of, and was float
ing away on the surface.
We were now helpless. The nsqneqe
of the canoe was no longer possible. Over
the falls she must,gol
We thought Of lesping out. but it was
too late. We were almost upon the edge,
and the black current that bore our craft
swiftly along. would carried our bodies
with like velocity. We could not make a
dozen: strokes before We should be swept
to the brink it was too late.
We both saw this and each knew the
feelings Of the other, for We felt alike
Neither spoke: but. crouching down and
holding the gunwales of the canoe, we
waited the awful moment.
The bear seemed to have some appre-
tensions as well as, ourselves for, instead
Of continuing his endeayors to climb into
the canoe he contenled himself with hoi
ding fast TO the stern. evidently under