The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-07-17

Off he ran with all his speed toward the
highest mountain peak, while the cries of the
little one came back to the ears of the halt
frantic father.
And now the monster began its ascent,
bearing its precious burden. Onward it went
and upward, climbing forward, as rocks tow
ering above rocks arose to abstruct his path
way. All this time it kept up its fearful
bowling, and for a time the walls of the child
We're heard but they became fainter and
ftinter, until the sound could no longer be
distinguished. AT length it disappeared from
view behind iutting ledge.
When the intention Of the animal was first
made apparent a kind of terror seizsd upon
every heart, and cry of agony burst from
every lip. And well might they have shud-
dered, for they knew full well that the feroci-
GUS animal was a she-bear, and that she was
carrying the child to her eyrie den as food fer
her cubs.
For a time the father had stood with face
blanched with despair, and with form trem-
bling like the Drowned leaves which still
chung to the trees around him. But that
"tdhhtsh NuS Oiiy Hloiutuldly3 loi uc DeCdtllC
again the invincible 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 loving darling.
To any but the father, and to him under
any other circumstances, the journey would
not only have been weary, but almost an
impossible one. But the anxious parent paus-
ed lot for an instant. Indeed, he seemed to
gain new strength and courage at every step
Now fearful rocky ledge would obstruct his
way, but he would mount upward making
ladder of the fral twigs which hung to their
sides. Onward and upward until the giddy
height upon which he stood was horrible to
contemplate. But he did not look back His
child was further on.
And now the point was reached where the
beau was last seen.
AT this instant strange sound fell upon
the ears of the father. A. first it was only
the cry of child. Then mingling with it
came the fierce growl of the she bear, and
following this, the yelpng Of cubs. Oh, what
agony filled the fathers bosom at that mo-
ment Could it be possible that the raven
GUS beasts were already in the act of devour-
ing 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
he felt himself unable to move.
Then came voice from below. 1t exclaim-
ed, F." Courage, Dick, Ill be with you soon
and will vet save your childn
"Child childr' mmmured Dick as he
started up Eyes, l must not give way to
this weakness so long as my child yet lives
and can hear its voice even now"
The poor father became strong again. He
moved forward few steps, and paced around
II point of rock, from behind which came the
sounds.
A terrible sight met his gaze
A little girl was lying upon her buck upon
the rock. The monster was near her. holding
her down with one of his huge paws, which
rested upon her breast. The little one had
ceased her struggings, evidently in despair,
and was now sobbing as if its poor little heart
was broken. The bear was bleeding pro-
fusely, and had evidently fallen from exhaus-
ton. 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 bt fore 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 few feet higher up were the cubs.
They saw the mother, and they appeared to
anticipate great feast, for they were strug-
Cling 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. So he resolved to
creep as near as possible to the monster, and
then spring upon her with his knife for, in
his haste and excitement, he had dropped his
rifle.
just as he was moving forward the bear
turned aud their eyes met. The dying beast
uttered a terrific howl and then looked down
at her victim. Then she glanced at her own
cubs, and then again toward Dick. Her ex-
preston seemed to say " You will have no
mercy on my young why should have upon
yours?"
1t was dreadful suspense for Dick. He
was satisfied the bear could 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 upon his part might cause this
blow to fall.
The hunter becomes so accustomed 10 the
various animals with which he comes in con-
tact that he can almost read their very
thoughts. Their actions can nearly always
be interpreted correctly. So was itwth Dick
now. He saw the intentions of the bear, and
knew that his own action must be prompt
and powerful, or it would be too late.
He clutched his knife, and, with his arm
nerved with desperation, hope, and fatherly
love, he sprang directly at the throat Of the
monster, who received him with tremendous
howl and with mouth wide open.
Had tho beast been uninjured the struggle
would have been of short duration, for the
odds between a man and a grizzly bear would