The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-02-10


All the people stretched their necks
to look where he lay blinking up at
them; and stupid nurse maid. with a
child IN her arms, stood on tiptoe to
lean further over. There was push
scream.
1.-The child! Ach Colt! It is gonem
The crowd surged and pressed against
the barrier. Voss was almost crushaI
upon its edge. Fora moment there was
a silence like death as people looked
with straining eyes into the darkness
below. Then they saw the little white
heap close to the wall of the pit. Two
OF the smaller bears were snufflinc IL
curiously. The monster that had
killed the Englishman was slowly gath
ering up his fore-legs and dragging
himself towards it.
There was scarcely any sound in the
crowd. Men grew pale and turned away
sick. A woman who had never seen
the child before fell in dead faint on
the ground. But its mother stood quite
still, leaning over the pit, her hands
held out to it.
There came wild cry from tho
crowd. A man had jumped into the
pit. The bear turned, glared at the
intruder with sudden fury, and then
rushed upon him. He dealt it blow
straight between the eyes; but it fell
like feather on stone wall
'He leaps over him.
1.-The others are coming on him.
Zach, what blowsn'
well struck! Again, againr shouted
the Englishman.
'But he can do nothing. He will be
torn to piecesr'
"Oh, the poor boyr'
''See, the bear has torn his fleshr'
''He has the child! He has the child!
A ladder! A ladder!''
But there was no ladder to be found,
nor weapons of any kind. The mass Of
people leaned over, praying. shouting,
sobbing, while the struggle went on be-
low as silent as the grave.
The man, bleeding and pale, was
pushed to the wall, the child lifted high
IN his arms. The savage brutes SUR
rounded him. There was a trunk of
tree in the center of the pit, placed
there for the bears to climb upon. He
measured it with his eye, gathered his
strength, and then with a mighty bound.
he reached it, and began to climb. The
bears followed to the foot of the trunk.
"a rope! roper
The rope was brought, and flung to-
wards him.
HE has it! He will tie it about his
waist. No, it is the child he ties. He
will save it first.''
He fastened the child, and watched
it swung across in safety. When they
threw him the rope, again, he did not
catch it. He was looking at the moth
er when they put her baby in her arms.
When he had taken the rope and tied it
about him, a hundred strong hands,
English. French, Swiss, were ready to
help pull him in. AS he swung across
the chasm, going halfway to the bot
tom of the pit, the bear caught at him.
but its hold slipped. and the animal fell
back with baiiied growl.
There was great shouting when the
lad stood on the grass in safety; every
body talked at once to his neighbor.
"God be thanked"
"That is brave fellowp'
Y "Who is he?"
cit is John Voss, the schoolmaster's
ooy."
"Where is he?'
But Nicholas had disappeared in the
confusion.
Nothing else was talked of the next
day in Berne. In the shops and kitch-
ems, at the balls, in the brilliantly
lighted great houses, even in the Gov
eminent Council, the story was told.
and the lad was spoken of with praise
and kindness. At the theater, some
body called Tor cheer for him. and the
whole house rose with the viuats!
Mother held their babies closer to their
breasts that night, and with tears prayed
God to bless him.
Meanwhile, Nicholas lay in his cot,
tended by his old mother and father.
His legs were sorely torn. But he was
happy, as he always was, at home.
In the afternoon, a messenger from
the Council knocked at the door and
left an official document. 1t was q
deed conveying to Nicholas Voss a
house and pasture land in the vicinity
of the town.
He put it into his fathers wrinkled
hands. Now, father, you are sure OF
a home for you and mother" he said. r
He fell asleep soon after that. When
he awoke, the sun was setting, and
shone on the bed, and the happy old
people were watching him. .a
A few days later, his father put
little case into his hands.
look at this, my son! Never did
think lad of mine would reach such
high honor!'
1t was the gold medal of the Humane
Society of Switzerland, awarded only to
the braveSt.
"And here" said his mother. sis
bunch of violets which little Jeanette
left for YOU
Nicholas eyes shone as he looked at
the medal. But the flowers he held
close to his lips Youths Companion.