The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-10-03

the Jagged masses of ice,; that, as we
neared the foot of the hill, seemed impos-
sible for US to surmount.
Though the way was steep and slippery,
we found that we could secure a foothold
where the bear had gone, though it had
the advantage of us as regarded its claws.
Ben was in the advance, next, and the
rest of the party strasgling behind and
after awhile we managed to reach the spot
where the snow was marked by crimson
streak, giving US a trail that we could not
mistake. Encouraged by this sign, we
| gave another shout and pressed On.
1t was hard climbing, and more dam
gerous even than running up to the mast
head with the shi p threatening every mo-
ment to be tossed on its beam end. There
were no ropes to cling to, and a misstep
would have sent US down like rocket.
Once I slipped, and had it not been for
Ben's hand, held out at the same moment,
l must have gone down and been dashed
to pieces on the solid ice an hundred feet
below.
We got at last to the top Of the first
range of cliffs which oycrhung the plain
below, and to the spot where the bear had
| disappeared from our view. 1t was no.
where to be seen; but before us was a
narrow field filled with great masses of
ice that had fallen from the high cliffs
which Overhung it in the rear. The Grim
son trail led in among these broken frag-
ments, and with another shout, after we
had taken breath, we pressed on, Ben still
keeping in the advance, and l followed
him close, keeping an eye out for danger,
for l expected every moment that the
monster would spring upon US from be-
hind some of the ice-boulders that were
scattered SO plentifully arouud.
A call from the mate caused me to
pause until he came up, but Ben, eager to
be the first, went on alone, and before we
again moved forward he was out of sight.
Eager to be with him, / increased my
pace, as did also the mate, but hardly had
we taken dozen steps when the report
of Ben's pistol startled US, and the echoes
rolled among the cliffs, followed by ter
rible howl of savage rage, and a human
cry for aid that was well-nigh drowned
by the roar of the beast that seemed to
shake the solid ice upon which we stood
For a moment that cry fastened me,
as it were, to the ice, without the power
of motion but the spell was broken by
the mate, as he shouted:
'Fcrward, men, and rescue your com
rade. But be CAREFUL
The men did not need this to cause
them to press forward as fast as possible,
but it had the effect to awaken me from
the sort Of trance into which had fallen
when the cry for aid had filled my ears ;
and, with bound, sprang forward. A
lew steps revealed to me sight so terri
bic that for years after it haunted me in
my sleep, and even now it appears as viv-
idly as ever. The space before me was
nearly clear of the great ice boulders that
were strewed SO thickly behind us; and
the way to the loot of the cliffs, that we
were now close upon, descended at such
a sharp angle, that one used to it could
have slid upon his feet down to the very
base, had it not been for great chasm
that opened near the centre of the field,
and which appeared to run along its whole
length. We could tell nothing of its
depth but the dark line that revealed it
TO US showed that from its width, it would
be impossible for us to cross it. It was
a deep crevice, that had been opened by
an earthquake, or by some strange move
ment of the great glacier. But we beheld
on the edge of the chasm nearest us a
sight which froZe our blood-the huge
white monster we had been following sit
ting erect upon its launches, with poor
Ben lying close to his side, and the snow
oh
flowed from both their wounds. For a
moment neither the mate nor myself could |
hardly think or stir, while the monster
before US uttered a succession of growls |
that sounded as deep and threatening as
the howlings of the tempest. For mo-
ment the beast would look at the victim.
stretched SO helpless at its feet, and then
glare at as, uttering deep growls continu-
ously.
The spell that was upon us was soon
broken and the mate slowly brought his |
piece to bear upon the monster, which
suddenly dropped down upon all fours,
and, still growing, seemed to be about to
commence a meal upon poor Ben, who |
now, by motion of his hand, gave us to
understand that he was still alive and
sensible of his terrible dagger.
'For heavens sake, take good aim,
Mr.. jones'" [ said, as L saw that the
mate was about to fire. calm at its
head, but not too low, or you may hit
Ben."
There was loud report, which seemed
to shatter the icy crags about us; and,
when the smoke cleared away, we saw
the bear standing apparently unharmed.
The bullet had gone wide of its mark.
Parker, give me your gun," called the
mate to the man behind him. AS he |
reached out his band to take it, the bear
anddenlv clasnad NOR Bnr In q can.E..l