Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-17

Z p
fight"
"There he goes now,n observed
the Major, who would have liked tC
witness an encounter between the
rival Lieutenants, there and then
"GoOdl We will hasten forward
and settle this matter at once and
forever - exclaimed Trevelle, de
cidedly.
"NO," l interposed; "this is not
the place for a recoRtre. You forget
that we are in the midst of Paris
society an affair of this kind hap
pening here without an interior
ference on our part would subject
us to court-martial, if not imprison-
ment."
"The Colonel is right" acQui-
esced both Glare and PenrOy.
Accordingly, Trevelle cooled
down and made no further move
ments towards meeting his rival
We reached the place where the
great bear was exhibited. He was
in a pit with three others that look
ed quite as fierce as himself.
saw at a glance that he was a
regular "Rocky Mountain Grizzly
and Trevelle noted this fact as soon
as l, for he remarked loosely, ga
wild sort of fellow, isn't he90
This observation caused a gener-
al laugh, for the animal was pranc-
ing about the pit, swapping, glar-
ing and growing, and was evident
ly in anything but a mild mood.
The deh was about twelve feet in
depth and paved on the bottom
and sides with granite flags.
The stout trunk of a tree with
limbs trimmed closely, stood erect
in the center, upon which the bears
occasionally amused themselves by
climbing clumsily up, much to the
annoyance of timid people, but to
the qualification of visitors gener-
ally.
While we stood looking at the
grizzly, Bardette approached and
stood nearly opposite us, at the
other side of the railing; neither he
nor his companion deigning to rec
ognize us further than to salute the
Major and myself, as compelled by
military custom.
Near us stood a lady, evidently
one of nobility, attended by young
girl who had in her charge very
little boy, apparently about four
years of age.
The lady had occasion to step
aside for a moment to converse with
an acquaintance.
The eyes of the girl followed her
mistress, and in the brief moment
that her attention was thus divert
ed, the child by some means man
aged to slip away and fall between
the bars of the railing, dozen into
the pit, among the bears
A scream of terror uttered by the
little one in his descent caused the
poor nurse to take in the situation
in moment, and with shrek fol-
lowed by a groan of anguish she fell
back into Clare's arms in a dead
swoOn.
l was so Mortified 10y the fright
ful occurrence that for moment ]
could scarcely realize the peril OF
the child.
Trevelle, pale as marble, but cool
and collected, asked hurriedly:
"Have you a sword or a pistol
about you p
Before l could reply, he had
seized the railing, swung himself
oyer, and descended the slippery
wall into the den.
To my horror | beheld him bound
desperately at the ferocious beast
which had, with a prolonged howl,
sprung forward almost upon the
hapless child, and catching the lit
tie boy in his arms, Trevelle sprang
toward the tree that stood in the
center of the pit.
He caught one of the branches
and scrambled hastily up the trunk
nor was he moment too soon, fol
with a fierce growl at thus being
deprived Of his prey, the enraged
beast prepared to follow him.
The gallant Lieutenant kicked
Bruin repeatedly, sinking his SHARP
spurs deep into the brute's snOut
This served only to irritate him
increase his rage, and make hin
roar fiercely.
Glare held a revolver in his hand
but dared not fire lest he might in
jure Trevelle.
The heroic rescuer reached the
top of the tree in safety, but the
bear followed him up closely.
At this critical juncture PenrOy
produced a rope, an end Of which
he threw Trevelle, who caught 1t
deity, and while Penroy wound his
end around the rail and held it firm
ly in place, he sw ung himself of the
tree, just escaping the bear, and
struck close beside us, against the
smooth stone wall.
Selling him quickly We landed
our brave comrade and his precious
burden uninjured.
Strange to relate, the little fellow
had not been hurt by his uncere-
monious descent upon the hard