Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-05-23
NEW SERIES VOL. 4, NO. 30. SATUR

towering above rock arose to obstruct its
pathway. All the time it kept up its fear
ful bowling, and for time the walls of the
child were heard, but they became fainter
and fainter, until the sound could no longer
be distinguished.
AT length it disappeared from view be-
hind jutting ledge.
When tire intention of the animal was
first made apparent, kind of terror seized
upon every heart, and cry of agony burst
from every lip.
And well might they have shuddered
for they now knew full we'll that the fero-
cious animal was she bear, and that she
was conveying the child to her eyrie den as
food for her cubs.
For time the father had stood with face
blanched with despair, and with form trem-
bling like the Drowned leaves which still
clung to the trees around him. But that
weakness was only momentary; for lie be-
came again the invincibe father and with
the speed of an antelope he rushed for the
cliffs, his eyes fixed upon the point where
the bear had disappeared with his loved
darling.
To any but the father-and to him, under
any other circumstances-the journey would
not have only been a weary, but almost an
impossible one. But the anxious parent
paused not for an instant. Indeed, he SEEM
ed to gain new strength and courage at
every step.
Now fearful rocky ledge would obstruct
his way, but he would mount upward, ma
king ladder of the frail twigs which hung
to their sides. Onward and upward, until
the giddy height upon which he stood was
terrible to contemplate.
Ruf ha did not lnnly bocl. HE child
further on.
And now the point was reached where
the bear was last seen.
AT this instant a strange sound fell upon
the ears of the father At first it was only
the cry of child. Then mingling with it,
came the fierco growl of the she bear, and
following this, the yelping of cubs.
o, what agony filled the fathers bosom
at that momentl Could it be possible that
the ravenous beasts were already in the act
of devouring the treasure7
Dick sank upon the solid rock, while the
perspiration rolled in streams from his face
and body. A blindness came over him, and
he felt himself unable to move.
Then voice came from below. It ex-
claimed:
Courage, Dick. I'll be with you soon,
and we'll yet save your child"
"Child cbild!" muttered Dick, rs he
started up. "fes, must not give way to
this weakness so long as my child yet lives,
and / can hear its voice even now"
Tho poor father became strong again. He
moved forward q few steps, and paced
around point OF rock, from behind which
came the sounds.
A terrible sight met his gaze.
The little girl was lying upon her back
upon the rock. The monster was near her,
holding her down with one of her huge
paws, which was resting upon her breast.
The little one had ceased her strugglings,
evidently in despair, and was now sobbing
as if its poor little heart would break.
The bear was bleeding profusely, and
evidently fallen from very exhaustion. The
bullets which had been sent into her body
had given her, no doubt, her mortal wound,
but she was tenacious of life, and could &C
complish much after that wound was receiv-
ed, before her life was yielded.
Like the parent who now sought his
daughter, the first thought of the bear was
of her young, and even in her dying agony
she clung to the food she had brought
them.
Only few feet higher up were the cubs.
They saw the mother and appeared to anti
cipate great feast, for they were struggling
to reach it, while they lifted their young
voices in chorus with that of their parent.
Dick knew that he must save his child
soon, or it would he too late So he resolved
to creep as near as possible to the monster,
and then spring upon her with his knife,
for in his haste and excitement he had
dropped his rifle. Just as he was moving
forward the bear turned, and their eyes met
The dying beast uttered horrible howl
and looked down at her victim.
And then she glanced at her cubs, and
then toward Dick, Her expression seemed
to say:
"You will have no mercy upon my young
why should have upon yours 2"
1t was a terrible suspense for Dick. He
was satisfied shat the bear could live only a
few moments But what might not occur in
those moments 2 A single blow with her
huge paw and his darling would be torn to
fragments. A movement upon his part
might cause this blow to fall.
The hunter becomes so accustomed to the
various animals with which he comes in
contact, that he can almost read their very
thoughts. So it was with Dick, now. He
| saw the intentions of the bear, and he knew
that his own action must be prompt and
powerful, or it would be too late.
He clutched his knife, and with his arm
nerved with desperation, hope, and fatherly
love, he sprang directly at the throat of the
monster, who received him with q terrific
howl, and with mouth wide open.
Had the beast been uninjured, the strug
gle would have been of short duration, fol
the odds between a man and a grizzly beal
would be as great as that between a lior
and mouse. But the monster was now
dying. She retained all her courage and
will, but not her strength.
Dick gave her several rapid blows will
his knife. She groane6 almost as human
being would have done, and fell upon hel
side. But she recovered in an instant, and
striking Dick she threw him to the earth
But the father had seized his daughter, and
throwing her little way from him, she was
out of danger. Not SO with himself.
He was now stretched fiat upon his back
and both paws of the bear were upon hi
breast, and he could feel the sharp claws
entering his flesh. The two great CLASSY
ewes glared into his own, the terrible grow
rang in his cars, the jaws were extended
the long white teeth glistened, and the red
tongue was ready to lap up his blood.
He struggled, but could not move. A
moment more and all would be over fol
Il q