The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-09

back and snorted. II suddenly occurred |
to me that the bear was being pursued by
a band of hunters. Presently heard the
clatter of falling pieces of rock in the dis
lance, and the bear was growing 80 furi-
ously from side abyss that my knees
knocked together with fright l gave my
self up for lost. My situation at this time
was perfectly narrowing. The beast was
evidently getting nearer. Should run
after my compartment Full of despair,
1 placed my torch near the precipice.
The light fell upon the enraged shaggy
monster, who was very dexterously
climbing the steep side of the well. /
was wild with fury, and seized hold OF
large piece of rock which lay before me,
and hurled it with such force upon the
head of the wild beast that it fell back
ward, bowling, into the yawning abyss.
When man has to fight for his life
dear to us at any time, and under almost
any circumstances actions are rapid
enough at any rate, know mine We're.
1 placed my torch on chink in the
rock, took off my brown Holland coat,
which / tore in half, and threw one piece
blazing into the chasm belcv. BY the
light / saw that my enemy L.-i fallen
backward to a great depth, and the abyss
was 80 PERCEPTIONS that the chances were
he would not attempt another ascent
But it would not do to be over-con-
fident 30 I collected together a num-
Der of pieces of rock, and, for
prudence sake, let three masses, at
three successive times, well down.
A cry of pain convinced me that one of
my missiles must have struck the
beast as he was attempting to climb
up. Without knowing it, / had
obtained victory. The yelling of dogs
and hallooing of huntsmen fell upon my
delighted ear. The pack of hounds had
scented the passage, and thrown them
selves with fury upon the savage beast
In the meantime the hunters entered
with blazing torches, and gazed with
looks of wonderment upon me. must
have presented a strange appearance,
for had no coat on, and, with my pale
face and streaming hair, no doubt
looked like specter. Rescued res
cued I calculated, fastening at once to
remove the blocks of stone and crawl
through the narrow pass. The assembled
multitude rushed forward, and shook my
hands with mingled feelings of pity and
Joy. / related our unhappy adventures,
and ordinations of astonishment and
fear fell from all. Four of the hunters
volunteered to accompany me in
search of my companions and so,
without delay, we five, provided with
ropes, poles and torches, crawled back
through the narrow pass, waded through
the first pond, and came to the second,
where there was tiny foot-mark, tending
downward, on the left of a sharp, slip
perry stone. My companions halted.
Eth I murmured one, but the way
must have proved difficult one for a
LADY, l ..a ae
No doubt of that, calculated sec
ond, for, see, here is small foot-mark
again. 1t is evident one of the ladies
must have slipped down.
My heart seemed to stand still, and
L grew sick and faint.
"They took soundings and found the
water to be less than three feet in depth.
/ breathed again.
GO And see yonder = observed a third
huntsman. A little further on, where
the cliff ascends, the mark of water on
the yellow stone shows where the lady
got out again.
eve again assembled another cliff, and
came to vault, where there were two
exits. My companion, guided by the
foot-marks, followed the right. Hardly
hundred steps further, we came to
narrow passage in the rocks, through
which we had to go on our hands and
knees; this led us to narrow path.
"There is a strong gust OF wind, re-
marked one of the hunters; and, if /
mistake not, we are approaching some
other entrance to these inhospitable and
gloomy caverns. 'Karine Agat = I ex-
claimed, in a loud voice, Fastening on
ward. Marcus, where are yoa? Speak,
for mercy's sake, if you have any care
for your friend and companion Here
this way 7 cried out some one in dis
lance, which / recognized as the we'll
known voice of my friend.
"Guided by the sound, we hurried
forward, and soon had the satisfaction of
discerning a small group, at no very
great distance. On the projection of
the rock, near the opening, sat my COM
panions in misfortune, patiently await
ing the first faint streaks of dawn. The
lights had been long extinguished; they
were wet, cold, and supremely miserable.
II comprehended ut once that some
terrible misadventure had befallen them.
Karine appeared to be in state of utter
prostration; her countenance indicated
great personal suffering and deprivation.
Mr.. Nettlefold stepped forward, and
drew me on one side. In few hurried
sentences, he briefly explained the ma
ture of the disastrous events which oc-
CURED after they parted with me. 1t
appeared that, soon after they had passed
the pond, the bear, with a savage howl,
sprung upon Karine, whom he infolded
in his deadly embrace. The poor girl
tainted. My English friend, with pres
ence of mind and determination for
which shall never cease to be grateful,
struck the infuriated animal across the
eyes with the lighted torch he carried.
The hot pitch partially blinded the brute,
who, upon the instant released Karine,
and rolled on the ground with several
sharp cries of pain, while, at the same
time, he strove to remove the pitch with
his fore paws. Mr.. Nettlefold saw this