Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-06

up its fearful bowling, and for q time th
walls OF the child were heard; but they be
came fainter and fainter, until the SCUM
could no longer be distinguished. A
length it disappeared from view behind
juiting ledge.
When the intention of the animal wa
first made apparent, q kind of terror seize
upon every heart, and cry of agony burs
from every lip. And well might they hsv
shuddered; for they now knew full wei
that the ferocious animal was a she bear
and that she was carving the child to he
eyre den as food for her cubs.
For time the father had stood with fac
blancbed with DESPAIR, and with form
trembling like the Drowned leaves whicl
still clung to the trees around him. Blu
thst weakness was only momentary, TO
he became again the invincible father; and
with the speed of an antelope, he rushe,
for the cliffs. his eyes liked upon the poin
where the bear had disappeared with hi
loved darling.
To any but the father, and to him unde
any other circumstances, the journey woult
not only have been a weary, but almost al
impossible one. But the anxious paren
paused not for an instant. Indeed, b,
seemed 20 gain new strength and courag,
at every step. Now fearful rocky ledg,
would obstruct his way, but he woulC
mount upward, making a ladder Of tn,
frail twigs which hung to their sides. On
waid anu upward until the giddy neigh
upon which he stood was horrible to con
template. But he did not look back. Hi!
child was further ON.
And now the point was reached whert
the bear was last seen.
Al this instant strange sound fell upor
the lars of the father. At first it was only
the cry of cblld. Then, mingling with
it, Game the fierce grow Of tine she bear,
and following this, the yelping of cubs.
On. what agony filled the fsthers bosom
at that moment Could it be POSSIBLE that
the ravenous beasts were already in the
act Of deyuuring his treasured
Dick sank upon the solid rock, while the
perspiraiion rolled in streams from his face
and body. A blindness came over him,
and be felt himself unable to move.
Tben Came vCice from below. 1t ex-
claimed: Courage, Dick. I'll be with
you soon, and Will yet save your child
Child. chilul' murmured Dick as he
Stated up. Yes, must not give away to
this weakness sU long as my Child yet lives;
and can hear her Voice even now
The poor father became strong again.
He moved forward a few steps, and paced
around point OF rock, from behind which
came the sounds.
A terrible SIGHT met his gaze.
A little girl was lying upon her back up
on the rock- The monster was near her,
holding Ler down with one of his huge
paws, which rested upon her breast. The
little one had ceastd her strusglings,
evidently In despair, and was now sobbing
a. if lis poOr 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 lite was yielded. Like the
parent who now sought his daughter, Ii e
nrst thought of the bear was Tor her young,
and even in her dying agony she clung 10
the food she had brought then.
Only few feet higher up were the cubs.
Tkey saw the mother, and they appeared
to anticipate 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 OF it would be too late. Soon he re-
solved to creep as near as possible &c the
and then sp ing upon her with
his knife; for, in his haste and excitement,
lie had dropped his rife.
just as he was moving toward. 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 expression seemed to say:
1Uu will have no mercy on my young,
why should have vi on yoursl'
1t was Il dreadful suspense for Dick.
de was satisfied that the bear could live
OILY few moments. But what might not
occur In those momentsi A SIN gle blow
with her huge paw and his darling would
be torn ,pto fragments. A movement up
On his part might cause the blow TO fall.
The hunter becomes SO accustomed TO
the various animals with which he comes
in contact that he can almost read their
very Thoughts. Their actions can nearly
always be interpreted correctly. So was
it with Dick now. He saw the intentions
of the bear, and knew that his own actions
must be prompt and powerful, or it would
be too late
He cluiched his knife. ami with his arm
nerved with desperation, hopes, and a
fatherly love, he spraDg directly at the
tbEpat of the monster, who received him
with tremendous howl and with mouth
wide open.
Had the beast been uninjured the strug-
gle would have been of short duration, for
the odds between man and grlzZ y bear
would be as great as that between q lion
and a mouse. But the monster was now
dying, and death was near. She retained
all her courage and will, but not her
strength.
DIck gave her several rapid blows with
his knife. She groaned almost as human
being would nave done, and fell upon her
side But she recoveI ed in an instant. AID
striking Dick, she threw him TO the earth.
But the father had seized his beloved
daughter, and throwing her little apart,
she was now out of danger.
Not so with himself.
He was now stretched fiat upon bis back,
ana both the paws of the beast were upon
bis breast, and he could feel the sharp
claws entering his flesh. The two great.
CLASSY eyes glared into his own, the terri
bic growl rang iD his ears. the jaws were
the long white teeth glistened,
and the blood-red tongue was ready to lap
up his blood He struggled, but could not
move A moment more, and all would be
over for him forever, now the death h-grip
was fixed rpon him.
And, TO add TO bis agony, he had seen
his child spring of and run toward the
edge of the cliff. Ii would be dashed to
pieces in falling, even as It's brother had
been
But could this be misfortune, since the
father must diel Would it not be better
for her to JON her loved ones IN another
world than to remain In this cod one, alonef
Just at that instant, however, there came
the Tt pert of rifle TIE bear relaxed her
hold and fell heavily upon the body oil