The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-21
Tho crowd surged and pressed against

ly. The monster that had killed the
Lnglishman was slowly gathering up his
re legs, and dragging himself to-
ward 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 into dead
faint on the ground. But its mother
stood quite still, leaning o'er the pit.
her hands held out to it.
There came wild cry from the crowd.
A boy 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 a stone
wall.
"He leaps over him!'
1.-THE others are coming on him.!
each, what blows!"
"Well struck! Again, again"
"But he can do nothing. He Will be
torn to pieces!"
"Oh, the poor boy!'
"See, the bear has torn his fiesh!'
"He has the child He has the child!
A ladder! A ladderp'
But there was no ladder to be found,
nor weapon of any kind. The mass OF
people leaned over, praying, shouting,
sobbing while the struggle went ON be-
low as silent Us the grave.
The boy, bleeding and pale, was
pushed to the wall, the child lifted high
his arms. The savage brutes surrounded
him. There was 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 begin to climb. The bears fol-
lowed to the foot of the trunk.
"a rope! rope!'
The rope was brought and flung to-
ward 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 mother
when they put her baby in her arms
When he had taken the rope and tied it
about him, hundred strong hands,
English, French, Swiss, were ready to
help pull him in. AS he swung across
the chasm, going half way to the bottom
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 ut once to his nei2hbor.
"God be thanked!
"That is brave fellowT
"Who Is he ?"
"It is the schoOl-master's boy"
"Where is hep"
But Nicholas had disappeared in the
confusion.
Nothing else was talked of the next
day in Berne. In the shops and kitchens,
ut the balls, in the brilliantly lighted
great houses. even in the government
council, the history was told, and the
lad was spoken of with praise and kind.
ness. At the theater, somebody called
| for cheer for him. and the whole house
rose with the "vivats" Mothers held
their babies closer to their breasts that
night, and with tears prayed to God to
bless him.
Meanwhile, Nichols lay in his cot,
tended by his old mother or father. His
legs were sorely torn. But he was merry
and happy, as he was ut home.
In the afternoon, messenger from the
council knocked at the door and left an
official document. 1t was deed convey
ing to Nichols 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 home
for you and mother" he said.
He fell asleep after that. When he
awoke, the sun was setting and shone on
the bed, and the happy old people were
watching him.
A few days later his father put little
case into his hands.
"Look at this, my son! Never did I
think lad lof mine would reach such
high honorw
1t was the gold medal Of the Humane
Society of Switzerland, awarded only to
the bravest.
"And here,' said his mother, sis q
bunch of violets which little Jeanette
left for YOU
Nichols eyes shone rs he looked at
the medal. But the flowers he held
close to his lips.-[ Youths Companion.
"a collection will now be taken up, u
said the minister. Deacon Swipes, will
you pass"-and that good man waking
suddenly with his hands full OF hymn
books, responded: mo, I'll order it up,
by thunder" and then the minister dealt
him dreadful look and the good man