The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-09-08

necessary for him to make q trip of sew
eral miles through the forest to ,
distant point in search of needed timber
and after q hearty breakfast at earl,
dawn he started.
The way was through the unbroker
timber, away from all paths add trails
so that although he carried rife and
pistols, he hardly deemed it possible
that bis enemy could find him.
Rapidly he urged his way over the
rolling ridges, often tufted with dense
thicket OF pine and sometimes cedar, and
across the intervales of hemlock and
black ash, and following the line of his
eoEnpasa and the Uid surveyors mArKs
on the trees, until, several hours before
noon, he found himself upon the ground
he wished to examine.
| Until now the air had been clear: but
Just as he concluded his inspection OF
the timber on the tract, and seated him.
self to eat his lunch, snow began to fall.
This was unpleasant, and might prove
even dangerous. Good woodsmen were
sometimes lost in these mighty solitudes,
and Sheppard fastened to begin his camp.
ward journey.
I'll strike for the river" said he to
himself. cts bit longer, but I can
follow the stream up to the log way.
| then find the trail, and SO have direct
DAD to camp"
The river ran in a wide circle some
three miles to the west of where he was.
At point about two miles from the
camp, on high bluff, wrs storing
point for timber, from which, to the
waters brink-perhaps third of a mile
distant, and 800 feet below-there ran a
log way, or rough, strong trough, built
OF heavy planks. down whsch the logs
were shot in the early springtime, or, in
fact, at any time when desired, to be
gathered into RATS at its foot.
Shephard's plan was to find the river
and follow it up to this point, from
which he could travel the beaten road
home.
Without delay, having formed his
plans. Sheppard threw his rife to his
shoulder. glanced at his compass, and
started.
For time his path ran along the
ridges already spoken of, where the
snow was not particularly heavy, and as
the storm increased but slowly, he made
fair progress. At length, however, he
found himself upon lower ground as he
approached the river, where the depth
of snow was much greater, and at the
same time the wind increased and the
storm swept through the mountain
forest.
Still the man kept bravely on He was
accustomed TO the work, and thought
but little of danger in connection with
it, his whole mind being given to the
care and watch of his path, when sud
denly, as he climbed fallen pine to
gain little better view through the now
fast-failing snow, he heard low growl
almost at his very feet. The next instant
the brown and shaggy form of gaunt
bear arose before him, and with snarl
of rage and surprise, bruin struck
vioiously at Shephard's legs.
The foreman was taken completely un-
awares. and the blow threw him back
ward into the deep snow, his rifle falling
from his hands as he fell.
He heard the angry brute crashing
through the dead branches Of the pine
toward him. He felt that but q few
seconds only separated him from those
vicious and hungry teeth, and with
desperate effort he regained his feet and
turned and seized his rife; but, to his
horror, the muzzle was full of snow, and
he dared not fire it.
Snatching a pistol from his belt, he
turned again, just in time to meet his
enemy face to face. He could not retreat,
and, as the bear arose with another
terrific growl, and struck a sweeping
blow, the man bowed himself, and press
ing his weapon full against the shaggy
body so near him, pulled the trigger. :
There was sharp report, mingling
with q shrek of agony, smell of burned
Lair, and then, without a sound, but
with the bright blood yelling from her
side, the monster sank, quivering and
lifeless, to the ground. Shephard's bull
let had found her very heart!
To say that the man had not been
frightened would be wrong, but he did
not stop to glory over his success. The
storm and the coming night were his
most dangerous enemies, and he
hastened on.
An hour later he stood beside the
river. silent now in the ice chains, and
rapidly he forced his way up stream
toward the log-way.
The short winters day was drawing to
a close, and already night was beginning
to creep from the tangled taickets along
the bottom land, while the snow still
fell, though not so feroely as before.
A sharp walk of another hour brought
Sheppard to the foot of the log way, and,
to his astonishment, he saw that the men
had been running logs during the day;
for already large number were at the
foot of the trough, and the way itself
was almost clear of snow.
Even as he looked he heard q distant
roar, increasing each moment and then,
far up the narrow pathway, he saw some
thing flying toward him, a snow-cloud
hanging above it, and as he crouched TO
avoid it, the great log reached the end of
the slide, struck heavily against others
that stood Or lay near, and few into the
air, falling, at length, half dozen rods
away in the snow.
"What in the world do the boys
mean by running to-day?" queried the
foremen of himself. 1.-THE snow will
cover the legs 80 that it will bother us
to find them. must stop it at once"
The night was now close at hand, but
Ralph cared little for that. for all dan
ger was past. Rapidly as might be he
began to climb the hill by the side of
the log way. hoping soon to be within
calling distance OF his men, 80 that he
might cause them to cease running.
Onward and upward be painted, with
no thoughts of BILE, no remembrance
of any enemy-brute or human-when
Just as he rounded little thicket of
cedar, there stood suddenly before him
the one man OF all the world whom most
he dreaded.
He saw the cruel light in his eye. saw
his uplifted hand welding his dubbed