Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-07-10

Nllc Hthit WAh Dlphcn' ihV peW ""'
bleeding profusely, and had evidently
fallen from 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 accomplish much after that
wound was received, but before her
lie was yielded, Like tho parent
who had sought bis daughter the
first thought Of the bear was OF her
young, and even In her dying agony
she clang to the food she brought
them,
Only a few feet higher up were the
cubs, They saw tho mother, and
they appeared to anticipate a 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 1t would be to late,
Soon he resolved TO creep as near poss
iblc 10 the monstcr,and then spring up
on her with his knife; for in his haste
and eycitcmcnth he had dropped his rifle
Just as he was moving forward the
bear turned and their eyes met, The
dyiug beast uttered terrific howl
and then looked down at his victim.
Then she glanced at her own cubs,
aud then toward Dick, Her express
ion seemed to say; "You will have
no mercy upon my young; why should
] have upon yours 7
1t was a dreadful suspence for Dick.
He was satisfied that the bear could
live only a few moments. But what
might not occur in those moments
A single blow with her paw and his
darling would be torn into fragments.
A movement upon his part might
cause this blow to fall.
The hunters become so accustomed
to the various animals with which he
comes IN contact that he can almost
read their very thoughts. Their actions
can nearly always be interpreted
correctly. So it was with Dick now
lie saw the intentions of the bear, and
knew that his own actions must be
prompt and powerful, or it would be
too late.
He clutched his knife, and, with
his arm nerved with desperation,
hope, and fathery love, he sprang
directly at the throat of the monster
who received him with tremendous
howl and with mouth wide open.
Had the beast been uninjured the
struggle would have been Of short du.
ration, orAhe odds between a man
and grizzly bear would be as great
as that between lion and mouse
But the monster was now dying, and
death was near She retained all her
courage and will, but not her strength.
Dick gave her several rapid blows
with his knife. She groaned almost
as human beiug would have done,
and fell upon her side But she re-
covered in an instant, and striking
Dick, she threw him to the earth.-
But the father had seized his beloved
daughter, and, throwing her little
apart, she was now out Of danger.
n OF so WIN nltnSell.
He was now stretched flat upon his
back, and both the paws Of the beast
were upon his breast, and he could
feel the sharp claws entering his flesh.
The two great, CLASSY eyes glared
into his own, the terrible growl rang
in his ears, the jaws were extended,
the long white teeth glistened and the
blood.red tongue was ready to lap up
h.s blood. He struggled, but could
not move. A moment more, and all
would be over for him forever, now
the death-grip was fixed upon him.
And, to add to his agony, he has
seen his child spring off and run
toward the edge of the cliff. 1t would
be dashed to pieces in falling, even as
her brother had been.
But would this be misfortune,
since the father must die =! Would 1t
not be better for her to join her loved
ones in another world than to remain
in this cold one, alone ?
Just at that instant, however, there
came the report of rifle. The bear
relaxed her hold and fell heavily upon
the body of Dick. He rolled the
animal away and sprang to his feet
A friend had arrived in time, and not
an instant too soon. He was holding
Eva in his arms. She was not hurt.
The father could not help shedding
tears over his rescued darling, for
never before had she appeared so dear