Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-29

one thing for him to do, which was to turn and
run, and for that course he had so little time
that before he could gather Roadway the infuri-
ated animal was near enough to launch savage
stroke at him with its forepaw. If the coat had
held, Georges fate would have been sealed but
fortunately the cloth gave way, and the claws
only tore long strip from the skirt. Inc Dear
stopped for an Instant to examine his trophy
which gave the boy a few seconds start
Then the contest OF speed began. Among his
playmaJes George was counted a good runner,
but on this occasion he outdid himself. He had
need to do his best for it was anybody's race
for few minutes. Remembering to have
heard that bears could not run well down hill,
the boy veered to the left, and sraped his course
down the long slope that led to the pond. He
and his pursurer, but the bear Ike pt up the chase
most determinedly, and George with sinking
heart that he should soon arrive at the
waters edge. .-.
At this juncture the sound of sharp barking
behind notified him that Fido had appeared
upon the scene. That his little four footed
friend could assist him in the emergency did
not occur to George until the angry growing OF
the bear and . peculiar swapping quality in the
canine cutlery told him that the dog had actually
ventured to Join battle with his pursurer. Look
ing over his shoulder he saw that the bear mad
turned and was making after Fido, who at that
moment was getting out ofthe waY as actlSey
as his master had done.
The bear did not follow the dog far, but soon
resumed his pursuit of the master, who ran on
down the hill, until the sharp bark of Fido IN
the rear and snap by him at the bears hind
quarters, caused the larger animal to turn
again, giving George moments opportunity TO
recover breath and to attempt to reload ms gun.
The bear was soon after the boy again. and thus
the three tore down the slope together, Fldo
swapping at the enemy's rear at every chance;
and the bear resuming the pursuit of the lad
each time after he had chased the dog away.
All the time they were nearing the pond, and
soon George realized th3t at the next dash ne
must decide between the clutches Of his pursuer
and the chances of taking to the thin ice, which
at few feet from the shore would be sure to let
him into the water, and even in the pond there
No wOuld
left to drown peaceably, for the bear, a much
better swimmer than any boy, might follow him
into the water.
Where the boy paused, on the steep shore of
the pond, there stood large rock maple tree
with great low-spreading branches, some OF
which reached far ont over the water. Knowing
well that tree affords poor refuge from SO ex-
pert climber as bear, George decided TO post
pone his fate as long as possible by climbing the
maple. Leaping as high as he could, he clasped
the trunk with arms and legs and 'shinning"
upward soon gained the forks made by the lower
limbs. From there, looking down, he saw the
bear below him inst beginning to Climb nj the tree
the bear would soon be at his heels. So getting
astride of one OF the large limbs that extended
far out above the pond, he backed toward its
end, hoping that his pursurer would not venture
TO follow him. The animal paused moment at
the crotch of the tree as If calculating the dis
lance; then stepping upon the limb as If TO try
its strength and stiffness, began cautiously to
walk out upon it toward the boy. As he ad-
vanced, George retreated, until the weight OF
giant bow.
Down, down, curved the strong, elastic bough
most unwilhngiy. until George, who was near
its end felt his downward course arrested by a
smoth and chilly surface, and removing his
gaze for an instant from his persistent enemy,
then midway on the limb, found himself sitting
upon the thin ice of the pond. The bear had
stopped. seeming to hesitate about continuing
his pursuit in that direction, when George, de-
string to test the strength of the ice beneath
him, slackened his hold of the branch and
reached out his hands on either side. The in
slant that his grasp relaxed the straining limb
car sized him. and released from his weight,
sprang to its natural position with the quickness
OF q trout rod and the force of a catapult. The
animal balancing itself upon the limb was
thrown aloft by the tremendous and unexpected
recoil, and George looking upward from his
frail and chilly support, thought that all was
over with him when he saw the bear high the
air coming downward with its four legs out
spead like monster flying squirrel.
The beast struck the ice about ten feet from
the boy. went through it as il it were m egg
surge of water and broken ice. In q few seconds
moe there appeared amid the eddies and bob
bling pieces Of ice an ursine head with sharp
nose turned unerringly toward the shore, as a
out OF him gave his undivided attention to the
undertaking of getting to land His big fore
paws came out upon the ice, as, with = cat-like
spring he triedto gain footing upon the treach-
erous element, which broke under his weight,
letting him back into his chilly bath. Again
and again the bear clawed the ice, only to have
IL fail beneath him. until at last he broke his
way through 1t to the shore, disappearing like q
black streak up the bank
Despite the danger of his own situation,
George could not help laughing aloud At the
bears struggles and CONSERVATION, but his
mirth came to a sudden end as the ice on which
he was sitting suddenly gave way. leaving him
in much the same predicsment that his enemy
lately had been IN. BE saw what was happen