The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-10

Never word had he spoken since
the journey began. 1t was not a
very social party that morning. In
fact, there was no time for long yarns
or gossip, for the fifteen mile run,
made in about ain hour in the uncer-
tain light Of dawn, was through
dangerous locality for navigating
with such speed.
As the sun came up the boat |
emerged into a broad bay whose |
glistening waters, fringed on one side
by dark, moss-covered wall of live
oak hammock, and on the other by
bright evergreen slopes of low pal
metto, seemed an enchanted lake.
They had made nearly half the
distance across this arm of the bay,
when John, suddenly springing to
his feet, exclaimed, all in a breath,
pointing to leeward: There's three
bears, Cap. Put your helm hard lar
board. Let off that sheet, Gus
Therel thercl hold her there"
The boat had approached the game
on the larboard bow, the sail hiding
it until the two were abreast, but
there, sure enough, not more than
twenty rods to leeward, were an old
dam and two yearling cubs, pointing
for the main land, and swimming for
dear life.
No sooner said than done. The
helm was put hard larboard, the
sheet was gradually let of, and the
little craft cut as pretty a quarter
circle as ever craft was seen to cut.
Now the game was dead ahead and
the wind dead aft. 1t was rather
pitiful to see the old mother, strain
ing every nerve, with no chance, con,
tinually turning her head to Took over
one shoulder, then the other, with
desperate, wild eyes, as she was being
rapidly overhauled.
In less time than it required to re-
late the maneuver, they were along
side and within six feet, when John
raised his rifle and gave her shot,
but, owing probably to the motion of
both boat and bear, it did not prove
"a quietus" by any means, but so
crazed her that she began swimming
round in circle.
The boat was Immediately put
about and hauled up close to the
wind for tack, when Dame Bruin
was observed to be making directly
for it, apparently herself again, but
mad with pain.
The crew we're disposed to accom-
modate her, and so let the sail flop to
avoid Roadway. John now fired his
other shot, which must have missed
her altogether, for she kept her course
straight for the boat
H, thinking his companion a
trifle excited, seized the revolver, and
taking his position amidship, while
vet the bear was some six or eight
feet distant, coolly aimed and fired,
in quick succession, the whole six
chambers into her head. Strange to
say she took no more notice of them
than if they had been SO many paper
wads fired from a sweet-elder pop
gun.
She had now reached the side of
the boat, and, giving tremendous
spring, threw one of her huge paws
over the gunwale, then the other,
with massive claws protruding, it
seemed, two inches from her toes,
and drew herself up, head and shout
ders, with fierce; blood shot eyes fixed
on H, her wicked, open mouth
sending forth such an unearthly
growl from betweeR two such rows of
teeth, as would shake the nerves of
most men.
The scared expression had all goae
from her eyes now, and was replaced
by look of glaring hate and revenge.
you would wonder that a bear could
change it's expression of counte-
nance.
1t was evident enough that she
intended to take passage on board
that craft, for her great, black
body was coming up out OF the
water.
H, while looking down her
throat and almost feeling her hot
breath upon his cheek, thought of
the old Springfield at his feet, hither-
to forgotten. Dropping his now use
less revolver behind him, he seized
and cooked the rifle just as the bear
was coming over the gunwale, and,
thrusting the muzzle into her open
mouth, pulled the trigger.
That shot did the business. Let
ting 90 with all tours, she tumbled
down into the boat, limp and dead,
with scarce CULVER.
"Now for the cubs" said John.
They were but short distance away
making all possible Roadway for dry
land and tall timber, but were soon
overhauled. A single shot from
Johns rife, now reloaded, dispatched
one, when the boy Gus cried out:
"Oh, Cap! Let's capture the other
alive"
| Accordingly the sail was taken in
SO as not to run away from him or
require any bother of managing,
and, by means of a paddle, held to-
wards him, which he would seize hold
of and hug and bite, he was kept
alongside.
! 1t would seem an easy matter, un
der the circumstances, to moose the