Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-03-23

sharp, hungry looking jaws.
Covered with glittering icicle
!, some of which hung down from h
. heavy brows. and with patches
dirt and pieces of shells and gray
adhering to its body, he presentt
such a wild, formidable appearan,
that Bertha, screaming with terro
clung closely to her lover as poss
BILE.
'Don't be alarmed" SAID Graysol
although he felt uneasy enough as h
reflected that he had not a sing
weapon Of defense with him-nC
even a pen knife.
He watched the bear, which wa
now glarinS at him and his compar
ion, occasionally tossing his head, nj
tering feroelous growls. and openin
and shutting its jaws, in which wer
its red, fiery tongue and long shar]
teeth.
The savage beast. however, had a
yet shown 10 intention of leavin.
its position. and Grayson knew tha
as long as it remained where it wa.
there could be no danger; for, as tn,
ice-cake did not drift along any faste
than the raft. the distance between
the two floating masses must con
tinue the same.
But should the bear swim to the
raft, the lieutenant felt convinced
that his companion and himself
would fall victims to the ferucity o.
the creatures which, judging by the
lean appearance of its fanks, was
halffamished.
No assistance could be expected
from the ship. which was still a
leagne distaat, heating up against
wind and current. 1t would take
tYe ,hohrs at least, to meet her, and,
long before that time, the bear could
aefdmplish its horrid purpose.
r s'Oh, William gasped the girl,
[ eif we could only keepit where it is
until the ship reaches u.s.
81 can think of no way of doing
that" he replied.
Women are fertile in expedients.
Bertha suddenly remembered that
she had in her pocket little box, in
which were. some pieces of cake,
with portion of which she had fed,
on the day before, pet bird aboard
the ship.
She prodnced the box, and stood
ready to throw piece of cake to the
bear the moment the animal should
seem on the, point of swimming for
the raft.
Suddenly the animal raised itself
rs it to plunge in the water.
Then Bertha threw toward it
morsel OF cake, which, falling on the
inn- n--li~ereel@its nttantinn.
1t snapped mp the crumb at once,
then again turned toward the water
with a distastefuI growl. Bertha
tossed it another piece, which the
creature drew into its capacious jaw.
Then it seemed more enraged than
ever, such a small allowance having
evidently proved terrible aggrava-
tion.
When the girl threw to it another
bit of the cake it disdained to look
at it, but with it's bloodshot eyes
rolling like circles of living fire, and
its jaw wide open, it gave utterance
to a loud, sharp snarl, meanwhile
its head vindictively at the
two persons before il.
All at once advancing to the very
edge of the ice, it made an awkward
plung into the water and swan
swiftly toward the raft!
Now the dreaded time had come
There was the huge bear breasting
the waves on its way toward Grayson
and his companion, who had no
with which to oppose it.
ave are lostr' gasped the girl.
''Oh, what shall we do?'
The lieutenant could only respond
by holding Bertha on one side of
him, to be ready to sacrifice himself |
first. In fact, he hoped that, after
the animal should have destroyed
him, it would not modest his compan-
ion.
Nearer drew the beast every mo-
nent! Its ugly eyes cleaning with
1 baleful light, were turned full upon
Grayson.
Already it was within six feet of
,he raft.
There seemed not a ray of hope
or the young couple.
Suddenly the lieutenant's glance
ell ON the stone with the chain at
ached, lying in front of him.
His face lighted up.
A bright idea flashed on his mind.
It was one OF those thoughts born of
He quickly took the chain from
he ring to which it had been hook
d on the raft, and made moose with
! loose slip-knot on the end of the
ron links. just as the bear arrived
within four feet of the raft, he threw
he moose with unerring aim, so that
caught over the four-legs and
oot back of the head of the animal,
vhen he quickly drew the chain taut.
Then with both hands. he rolled the
leavy stone over into the water.
1t went down quickly, the chain
ightened, and the heavy weight
rev the head and the whole fore
,art Of the bear under the sea.
For several minutes horrid gur-
ling sound was heard, and many
bubbles rose to the surface, while
hat part of the huge beast visible
vas seen to quiver and roll in fearful
pasms as the animal struggled.
Gradually the struggles became
ainter, the gurgling noise was no
onger heard. There was one quick
ERIK and the bear was dead.
"We are savedr' cried the girl,
hrowing herself on her lovers bo-
ON.
"Yes," answered Grayson, calmly.
Rut if 7 had Thought of thus using