The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-06

inviocible father and, With the speed
Of an antelope he rushed for the cliffs.
his eyes fixed upon the point where
the bear had disappeared with his low
ed darling.
To any but the father. and to him
under anv other circumstances, the
journey would not only have been a
weary, but almost impossible one. But
the anxious parent paused not for an
instant. Indeed. he seemed to gain
strength and courage At everystep. Nov
q fearful rocky ledge would obstruct
his way, but he would mount upward.
making q ladder of the frail twigs that
hung to their sides. Onward aud up
| ward until the giddy height upon
which he stood was horrible to cOntem.
plate thereon.
And now the point was reached
where the bear was last seen.
At this instant q strange sound fell
upon the ears Of the father. At first
it was only the cry Of child. Then
mingling with it. came the fierce growl
of the she bear, and following this. the
yelping of Cubs. Oh. what agony filled
the fathers bosom at that momeit !!
Could it be possible that the ravenous
beasts were already in the act If de-
vourlng his treasure!
Dick sank upon the solid rock, while
the perspiration rolled in streams from
his face and body. A blindness came
over him, and be felt himself upable
to move.
Then came a voice from below. 1t
exclaimed, Courage. Dick. I'll be
with YOU soon, and will yet save your
child"
"Child, child" murmured Dick. as
he started up. "Yes," I must not give
way to this weakness so long as my
child yet lives; l can hear its voice
even now"
The poor father became strong
again. He moved forward . few steps
and paced around a point of rocks,
from behind which came the sound.
A terrible sight met his gaze. A
little girl was lying upon her back
upon the rock. The monster was near
her, holding her down with one of his
huge paws, which was resting upon
her breast. The little one had ceased
her struggling. evidently in despair.
and was sobbing As if her poor little
heart was broken. The bear vas bleed
ing 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 &C.
complish much after that wound was
received before her life was yielded.
Like the parent who now sought his
daughter, the first thought of the bear
was of her young. and even in her dying
agony she chung to the food she had
brought them.
Only a few feet higher up were the
cubs. They saw the mother, and they
appeared to anticipate q 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 it would be too late.
Soon he resolved to creep as near Is
possible to the monster, and then
spring upon her with his knife; for.
in his haste and excitement he had
dropped his rifle.
Just rs he was moving forward, the
bear turned, and their eyes met. the
dying beast uttered a terrific howl. and
then looked down at her victim. Then
she glanced at her cubs, and again to
ward Dick. her expression seemed
to say: "YOu will have no mercy on
my young; why should l have on
yours?'
1t was a dreadful suspense to Dick.
He was satisfied the bear could not
live only few moments. But what
might not occur in those moments. a
single blow with her huge paw and his
darling would be torn into fragments.
A movement on his part might cause
this blow to fall.
The hunter became 30 accustomed
to various animals with which he comes
in contact that he can almost read their
very thoughts. Their actions can near
ly always be interpreted correctly. So
was it with Dick. He saw the inten- |
tons of the bear, and he knew that his
own action must be prompt and pow
erful, or it would be too late.
He clinched his knife, and with his |
arm nerved with desperation. hope and |
a fatherly love. he sprang directly at
the throat Of the monster, who re-
ceived him with a tremendous howl, |
and with mouth wide open.
Had the beast been uninjured. the |
would have been of short du-
ration, for the odds between q man
and grizzly hear would he as great rs
that between lion and q mouse. But
the monster was now dying. and death |
vas near. She retained all her cour. !
age and will. but not her strength.
Dick gave her several rapid blows
with his knife. She groaned almost
as human being 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
and throwing her a little
apart, she was now out of danger,
Not 80 with himself.
He was now stretched fiat upon his
back, and both the paws of the beast
we're upon his breast, and he could feel
he sharp claws entering his flesh. The
'wo great. CLASSY eyes glaring into bis
'wn. the terrible gro~l rang in his !,
are, the jaws we're extended, the long
white teeth glistened. and the blood
ed tongue Was ready to lap up his
Hood. He struggled, but could not