The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-05-10
anne over him, and he felt himself

III
exclaimed, Courage, Dick, PII be
with you soon, and win yet save your
child"
"Chnd! child!" murnlured Die, rs
he started up. eyes, l must not give
way to this weakness so long as e s.
child yet lives, and l can hear its
voice even now."
y The poor father became strong again.
| He moved forward a. few steps, and
passed around point of rock, from
behind which came the sounds.
a terrible sigl1tnaet his gael
\ 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 rested upon her
breast. The little one had ceased her
strugglings, evidently in despair, and
was now sObbing as if its poor little
heart was broken. The bear was
| 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
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
| clung to the food she had brought
| them. ..
Only few feet higher up We've the
| cubs. They saw the mother, an6thev
appeared to anticipate great feast,
for they We're 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 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, and their eyes met. The
dying beast uttered terrific howl,
and then looked down at her victim.
Then she glanced at her own cubs,
and again toward Dick. Her eX-
preston seemed to say: "YOu will
have no mercy on my young; why
should have any upon yours ?n
1t was dreadful suspense for Dick.
He was satisfied that the bear could
live only a few moments. But what
might not occur i'll those moments?-
A single blow with her huge paw and
his darling would be torn into frag-
ments. y movement on his, part
might cause this blow to tall.
The hunter becomes so accustomed
to the various animals with which he
comes i'll contact that he can almost
read their very thoughts. Their ac-
tions can nearly always be interpreted
correctly. SO it was with 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 a fatherly love, he sprang directly
at the throat of the monster, who re-
ceiVed him with a tremendous howl
and with his mouth wide open.
Had the beast been Iminjured the
struggle would have been of short du-
ration, for the odds between man
and a grizzly bear would be as great
Us that between lion and mouse -
But the monster was now dying and
death was near. She retained all her
courage and will, but mother 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
But the father had seized his beloved
daughter, and throwing her a little
apart, she was now out of danger.
Not 50 with himself.
He was now stretched flat upon his
back, and both the paws of the beast
We're 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
his blood. He struggled, but could
not move. y moment more, and all
would be over for him forever, now
the death-grip was fixed uponhim
And, to add to his agony, he had
seen his child spring off and run tow
afi the edge Of the cliff: It w9uld be
dashed to pisces in falling, even as its
brother had been.
BuUwOuld this be a misfortune, since
the father must die? Would it not be
better for her to join her loved ones
in another world than to remain in
this cold one, alone?
Just at this instant, however, there
came the report Of rifle. The bear
relaxed her hold and fell heaYiiy upon
the body of Dick. He rolled the ami
NAL away and sprang to his feet. \
friend had arrived in time, and not an
instant too soon. He was holding
Eva i'll his arms. She was not hurt.
The father could not help shedding
tears over his rescued darling, for new
er before had she appeared half so dear
to him. But he resolved not to eX-
pose her 10 any iuEtheF danger OF the
kind, and SO he took an almost I'M ME
diate departure for the home he had
selected in the Golden State.