The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-13
tone Of authority.


But the cracker paid no heed, for he
was interested. / jess want to see
how mad bal can git was the
thought that slowly crystalized in his
mind.
Again he shook his stick in the
bears face in a most tantalizing way,
and switched the end of his nose with
1t. The animal was fairly beside him
self with rage. He backed up against
the post, gathered himself for spring,
and lunged forward with all his force
in a well planned effort to break loose.
Every link of the chain seemed to
crack under the powerful jerk, but it
held firmly, and Billy CRASHED his
teeth in a bafded rage.
'Lookey heugh, boss!'' cried Joe,.
'slet--d dat beas' alone! He'll bust
dat chain putty soon, and eff he do yo'
hide won't be with two cents!'
But the cracker was decidedly in:
terested, and he paid no heed.
Once more Billy backed up against
the post, lunged forward, and AGAR
brought up with a mighty jerk. His
tormentor instinctively backed Off &,
little farther, and, from little dis
lance, defantly shook the instrument
of torture at him. With a
whining howl that surely must
have been a prayer the bear again
backed up close against his post and
gathered himself for the greatest effort
OF his life. He stiHened his neck to
the very stiffest and sprang forward as
if shot out of a catapult With ring
ing jerk the chain, flew taunt, and a
link snapped in two
Had not the violence of the jerk
stopped the BEARS mad career for an
instant he would have shot clear for
ward upon his tormentor.
'.By gosh! he's loose!' yelled the
cracker, as he dropped his ox-gad,
wheeled about, and dashed out of the
yard. The bear started for him as
hard as he could:a2o
''Now you'll ketch the devil!'' shout
ed Black Joe after them, but it will
never be known for certain whether
the observation was addressed to the
bear Or the man. For an instant Joe
was glad the bear had got loose and he
heartily wished him success in his en-
deavor to overhaul his tormentor and
insert a new set of teeth for him free
of charge. But the bear must be re-
captured at once or some one would
shoot it, and it would be better for him
if he could be. caught before he hurt
any body; SO he grabbed up broom
handle and dashed after the runaways.
The quarry led the race up Main
street, and it certainly was a sight to
see. People who happened to be on
that street were startled by the wild
uproar at its lower end, and on looking
quickly in that direction saw wild
eyed cracker paving gravel for dear
life out in the middle of the thorough
fare, a black object galloping close be-
hind him, and the people giving way
right and left like frightened sheep.
Women screamed and stood still, men
ran into stores and banged doors be-
hind them, and many jumped into
wagons that were standing along the
street.
"a bear! bear - and shear loose ~.
were the cries that arose on all sides,
and moment later up came the pro-
cession The cracker lost his hat, and
as he bumped himself and strained
every nerve to put distance between
himself and his furious pursuer, his
coat-tail foated out behind him like a
genuine signal of distress. Now and
then he cast a terrified glance back
ward over his right shoulder, but ex-
cept for that he devoted all his energies
to getting on in the world.
Close behind him came the bear, at
a rolling gallop, head bobbing up and
down at every leap, nose well down for
the sake of speed, but pair of glitter
ing, jet black, wicked little eyes fixed
on the long-legged figure numbering
along in front. His mouth was open
for breath and business; he uttered a
little grunt every now and then, and it
was astonishing to see how fast the
brute ran. Behind him at a little dis
lance Black Joe came tearing along,
hatless, coatless and broomstick in
hand, his soul also in arms and eager.
for the fray.
''You Billy!n shouted Joe, ssyou Bill
ly! come hyuh, sah!''
But Billy had made an appointment
with the cracker, and he meant to keep
it.
go it, long legs!'' yelled cool.
spectator to the terrified native. He's
a gaining on your
The procession swept by like a hur-
ricane and drew in it's wake wild mob
of men and boys, who raced after to
see the result
The bear presently made sudden
squirt, closed up rapidly with the quar-
~, and made a slap at the tail of that
long coat. He caught a corner of it
full and fair, and thought he had his
enemy at last, but the cloth gave way
and FIJI on -