The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-26

the trail, calling now and then, coming
suddenly at last upon her husband and
Jack
Here's Jack, done beat out" he said.
''Take him home, wife. I'm going for
old Pierre Beauchainp, He knows every
turn and crook o woods Keep the fire
going, for It's raw night, and the cbild'l
be cold when we bring her in and don't
fret and Mr.. Brewer turned down the
old trail to Pierre's cabin
| can hardly tell you how the night
went by TO the poor mother, waiting and
watching, or to the father, who, with old
Pierre, secured every part Of the woods on
each side the trail, and by the light of
their pine knot torches searched each hcl
low tree, thinking the child might posi-
bly, have crawled into one for shelter
They shouted and called; but morning
dawned at last with no sign of Betty, and
the father, exhausted and almost despair
ing, sank down under one of the tall pines,
and hid his face in his hands. Suddenly
he lifted bis head
"Dat vay," old Pierre said, as his
quick ear caught a slight sound, ard Mr..
|
short, aud stood with such a ghastly face
that old Pierre too paused q momenE-
Not stones throw from them flowed a
wide, deep creek, one of the tributaries Of
Gull lake, and Gro SD here by au old log
thrown over it long ago by the Indians
y white birch grew by It's side, and under
1t laid Betty, resting partly against huge
brown bear, apparently asleep. At the
slight cracking in the brush il raised lis
head, and growled low, put one paw on
The chilTs dress, then as if sccnting dan
ger, turned about, saw the Two faces look
ing toward it, and with a fierce, loud
growl, caught Betty in its mouth and
darled toward the log
''Yat you do? Vat you DO = said old
Pierre as Mr.. Brewer leyeled his gun -
You shoots now and mads the bear, den
de chile all gone wait a minute. Hold
yon still-not cry keep your mooch
quiet!'' he called to Betty. ''Not to be
feared if you falls in de water"
As he spoke the bear had reached the
middle of the log, and turned now to see
If he were followed. The small fierce
eyes rested a second on the pair, and in
that second, old Pierre, the best shot IN
Minnesota, fred. Without struggle or
sound, the bear reeled from the log TO the
dark water below, and in one minute Mr..
Brewer had dashed in and seized the
screaming child
''De prett,est SHOT dis bon gun did ever
fire, old Pierre shouted, hGgging his gun
and dancing wildly about, while Mr..
Brewer hugeed Pierre, the gun, and Bet
ty all at once, and then ran toward home,
forgetting all weariness in the great Joy.
They were a happy family that day as
! sitting about the bed where Betty lay in
state, they tried to make her tell when
the bear came to her, and how she felt.
81 rolled way down somewhere said
Betty, ''and sort of went to sleep, and
then cried when woke up because |
was all scratched an snarty. Then |
heard somefn comm an didn't cry any
more, an it came and enutfed all around
me. l thought maybe It would eat me
up, but | couldn't cry, only | sort Of whis-
pered Now lay me- an it kept bmellin'
me. It's tongue was all rough an scratchy;
it hurt me. But when l tried to get away
it growled. Then l kept still, an didn't
remember until it picked me up an made
me cry, coz the teeth pinched me, an then
heard Pierre holler, an you got me out
of the water
Do you think this can't be true, boys
and girls ] know il is, for Betty her
self told me the story. She is living still,
and if you are anxious to find out her
real name, write TO me and | will tell
you. .-Ueoih and Home.