Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-24

steady hands p
Yes" replied several.
Then raise them and have them
ready. Bv sure your aim is good, and
that every bullet would be buried III the
beast in case OF firing, but hold your
shots until give the word"
Instantly overy rifle was raised.
Dick moved carefully around toward
the back of the cabin. 1t was his in
:-..,.ou . enter the window, seize his
/ lI,tia one. law her back, and, closing
the door, save ucr. But now the animal
began to L.Igr low growls and advanced
| towards Eva. ThL father saw this. and
exclaimed:
MY darling. get up, 20 into the
house aud close the door,"
The child looked up. smiled. and then
arose, attempting to do The bidding OF
the father; but the monster advanced
with fearful howl, and as the door was
closed against him, be struck it with one
OF his huge paws, shaltering il into
splin.ers.
II feared this. Fire! but be careful
and nol injure my child" cried the
father.
He discharged bis own piece, and at
the same lime a dozen other rifles rang
out The bear gave q most fearful howl
turned upon hil enemies, glaring upon
them with eyes of fire, aud seemed on
the point OF springing upon them. Sud-
denly, however. the beast appeared TO
change his mind. Tuning quickly
around, the mousty entered tho cabin.
4 shrek WAS instantly heard, and the
father instantly rushed forward, kniie in
hand, 10 save his darling But be was
too late, for with bound the beast bad
dashed through the window, holding
Eva in his teeth.
On lac ran wiki all his speed, toward
The highest mountain peak, while the
cyiCs Of The little one came back to the
ears Of the hali-lEantic father.
And now the monster began its ascent,
bearing its precious burden. Onward
and upward il went, climbing forward
SIS rocks towering above rocks arose to
obs;ruct lbs pathway. AL this time 1t
kept up It's fearful bowling, and for
awhile The walls OF the child were heard
but they bo,amo fainter and fainter, un-
tiIlhoy could be no longer distinguished
a, .ensth il disappeared from view be-
hiud jutting ledge.
Whom tie intention OF the animal had
drs, been made apparent, a kind OF ter
roI had seized upon every heart, and
cry of agony had burst from every lip.
And well they might have shuddored,
for they now knew iuii well that the
fcroclous animal was . sho-bcaT, and ihet
she was carrying the child 10 her don as
food for her li,sle ones.
For d ,imu the father had stood with
face bloached with despair, and with
form trembling like the brown leaves
tia, sill hung to the trees around him.
But that weakness was only momentsry,
Tor be became again the inyiucible faith
er, and. with the speed OF the antelope,
be rushed for the cliffs, his eyes fixed
upon the point where the bear had dis
appeared with his darling.
To any out the father, and TO him IN
der any other circumstances, the journey
would not only have been very weary,
but almost an impossible one. But the
anxious parent paused not for an instant.
Indeed, he seemed to gain new strength
and courage at every step.
Now fearful rocky ledge would OBJ
struct his way. bat he would mount up
ward. making ladder OF the frail
twiSs which hung by its sides. Onward
and upward, until tho giddy height upon
which be stood was fearful 10 contem-
plate. But be did not look back. His
child was still further on.
And now the point was reached where
the bear was last seen.
At this instant strange sound fell
upon the ears OF the lather. At first 1t
was only the cry OF child Then
mipaling with it, came the Gelce growl
of The she-bear, aud, following this, the
yelping oi cubs.
Oh, what agony filed the fathers
heart at that moment! Gould It be that
the ravenous beasts were already in the
act of devouring the precious treasure
Dick sank upon the solid rock, while the
perspiration rolled in streams from his
face and body. A blindness came over
him and he felt himself utterly unable to
move.
Then came voice from below. 1t ex-
claimed:
Courage, Dick; I'll be with you in
moment and We will yet save your
child"
Child! childw murmured Dick,
starting up. ''yes, must not give way
10 this weakness so long as my child
lives; and | can hear her voice even
now"
The poor father became strong again.
He moved forward n iew steps and
glanced around point OF rocks, iron
J -. 49,. kr undo