Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-09-07
gu @ ,0llriginal Stutt...
LOST AND FOUND !;
THE WHITE FAWN OF THE FOREST.
BY MRS. HENRY IDEAS.
g CHAPTER XIII.

In blissfnl ignorance, our young hero
dreamed on for very odd dreams, indeed,
were mistily floating about his brain, and the
oldest Of all was this
Hethought he was on foot, traversing vast
plain, With his cousin Charlotte on one arm
and Amy Carleton on the other. In front of
then, was mountain which they were en-
deayoring to reach, but which constantly re-
ceded from them, so that their most strenuous
efforts brought them no nearer to their goal {;
and this moving mountain shook the earth
with its weight. while 8 curious noise procee-
ded from it, like the Kissing Of q furnace, far
of, yet distinctly audible to their hearing,
and occasionally hot breath seemed to
sweep er them, as if from some hidden sub
tsrraneous fire. Suddenly, Charlotte grew
heavier and heavier, as she leaned upon his
arm, and as he turned in amazement to look
at her, she loomed up into a shadowy figure
Of immense proportions, while a grumbling
voice uttered these words-surely not Amy's:
at is only the African jackal you were read
ing about the other day-hear how heavily
he sighs r. and at the same instant the huge
mass, which was Charlotte and yet not Char.
lotte, fell prone upon him and trampled him
to the earth. The shock awakened him. He
opened his eyes, stared confusedly about him,
and for . moment turned as cold as ice, as he
became aware that his dream was not alto
gether dream, but had stern reality for its
basis. The big shadowy mass assumed tan
gible form. It was not Charlotte, but a
weighty, hairy paw that pressed upon his
arm; two fierce little glittering eyes were
blinking sayagely at him, and a hot breath
stole over his face from between two parted
rows of ,viciously cleaning teeth. Charlotte
and the moving mountain had together melt.
ed into the unpleasant form Of large and
evidently hungry grizzly bear. .
Arthur was not coward but taken as he
was at SO thorough disadvantage, it was not
surprising that the realization of his peril, as
It flashed over him, should make him quail.
There was no time, however. for deliberation.
Instinctively he made desperate clutch at
his gun-which was luckily loaded-strug-
Cling at the same instant to his knees. Bruin,
Disconnected by the suddenness of the move
ment, stepped pace or two backward, and as
he did so Arthur fired-quickly, almost with
out sim-the shot grazing the ugly cheek of
his foe. The brute reared, more with rage
than pain. Bang, went the second barrel, just
as he was making numbering plunge for
ward, and this time with good effect. for he
went rolling over on the ground. This gave
Arthur an advantage He sprang to his feet
and whipped round the tree he had been
sleeping under, reloading his gun as he did
SO. Bruin was not desperately wounded. Di-
rectly, he scufled up again, and with world
of malice in his grinniug face, came flying at
Arthur, uttering terrific growls. The mist
had cleared away from the young mans eyes
now, and his native GOODNESS came to his aid.
He took good steady aim and planted load
of buckshot in the grizzly's forehead, where
it went crashing among his frontal bones with
stirring force. But it was horribly tough
forehead, as it appeared. Had the shot enter
ed his eye, it would have had more satisfac-
tory effect. Bruins temper, never mild
one, was worked up by this last assault to
furious pitch. Again he plunged at his enemy,
whose agility in keeping himself screened by
the trunk of the tree, alone ssved him from q
fatal hug. Arthur attempted to fire for the
fourth time, but, the gun snapped. He lifted
the weapon and dealt a blow with all his force
upon the brute's face, and in doing so lost bis
balance, and fell over gnarled, slippery root
on which his foot rested. He lad conscious
ness of a suffocating pressure upon his pros
trate form, and then he knew nothing more
Had he retained his senses-which were not
dazed by fright, but literally squeezed out Of
him-he would have heard ringing report
over his head, and have experienced the sat-
isfaction of seeing his shaggy assailant turn
an awkward somersault and stretch out his
clumsy limbs in the throes ofa final struggle.
Bruin was slain, and the peril past. The next
moment light form, graceful as an ante.
lope's, emerged from the thicket, slender
hand was laid on Arthur's arm, and pair Of
dark eyes, anxiously and inquiringly, sought
his unconscious face.
He was startled by this unexpected vision,
when the fresh air, blowing revivingly over
him, restored his scattered wits, and brought
him to 9 knowledge of his unlooked-for SAL
.gation from the grsatsst danger he-had ever
been placed in in his life. He thought it
must be dream and rubbed his hand con-
fusedly over his forehead, muttering some.
thing about "Amy-come out to look after
him-gun missed FIRE, or the bear never would
have got away" then checked his incoherent
speech, and gased in mute inquiry at his de-
iverer.
This good fairy, or guardian angel, who
had come so opportunely to his aid, was in
the shape Of slim, dusky-haired girl, wear
ing the garb of an Indian, yet of more DEL
icate and beautiful countenanee than he had
ever seen among the daughters of her race
A short, brown skirt, cariously embroidered
in gaudy colors. hung to her knee, and was
met by pair Of buskins bound with scarlet
ribbons. On her ankles and wrists we're gilt
tering circlets, either silver or its limitations,
and chains Of beads ofvarious sorts were
wound about her neck, and fell over the breast
of her short, scarlet jacket, which was trim
med with silver fringe. Her long hair was
braided and fell below her waist, and on her