The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-15

for although the tree was now within
twenty-five yard, unless l could reach
it at least three seconds ahead of the
bear, she would pull me down in the
act of mounting.
The hoarse, granting roar of the
eager brute had changed to blood
curdling growl, and ! fancied that |
could almost feel her hot breath on my
back, when sudden remem brance Of
some old-time story struck me. Quick
as lightning flash I drew my belt
knife and with one stroke severed the
light strap of the oil-skin satchel con-
tanning the remains of my lunch.
The bag fell to the ground, and. sure
enough, the bear stopped short and
tore it into shreds.
Then, totally ignoring the bread and
meat, she came on again with re-
doubled rage. But the precious three
seconds had been lost and gained, and
she was yet four lengths behind me
when reached the tree and scrambled
up to the first branch, about twenty
feet from the ground though barely in
time to save myself, for the long bodied
beast reared str aight beside the trunk
and came wi thin hairs breadth of
catching my foot as assembled.
Most fortunately for me, adult
grizzlies do not climb, nor could even
a common black bear have gone
up that sapling, the stem of which was
only nine inches in diameter. Though
safe for the present / was by no means
in comfortable position, none of the
branches being large enough to sus-
tain my whole weight. Consequently,
in order to support myself, l was
obliged to cling with one arm to its
body, and very firmly, too, as the
baftled monster rose several times on
her hind feet, shook the tree violently
and tore off great strips of bark with
her powerful claws.
What if she should take notion to
dig it up by the roots? She could have
done so in fifteen minutes Oh. how bit
terly now regretted not taking Jim's
advice to bring my revolver along
After awhile my jailer got tired of
trying to dislodQe me, but instead of
gong off she uttered loud, peculiar
cry, and the next moment the two cubs
came shutting along and joined her.
Then, while her babies refreshed
themselves, the grim mother sat com
posedly down at the foot of the tree,
evidently preparing for regular block
ade
If should live a thousand years l
could never forget that awful night.
After dark the temperature fell to
the freezing point, and l kept from
perishing only by repeatedly climbing
higher up the tree and then sliding
down to my old position.
Even so could hardly keep my blood
circulating. and was so worn out by
fatigue and SO deadly sleepy that /
was in momentary danger of dropping
into the hungry jaws below.
had hoped that the cold would in
duce the bear to retire to the cave with
her cubs, in which case | might take n
short run and gain larger tree, but
the cunning beast seemed quite con-
tented with her present quarters, and
long after had ceased to distinguish
her brownish-gray form on the SINH
larly colored ground ! could hear her
moving about and coddling her young
ones
At this time, the moon was two or
three days beyond the full, and it must
have been past midnight when it rose
high enough to clear the mountain-tops
and light up my valley prison. Then
the bear and l could again see each
other plainly, fact of which she took
advantage to give my roosting-place
another series OF vigorous shakes.
If the angry beast had known enough
to keep this up for five minutes at anv
one time, ! must have lost my hold;
but luckily, she didn't and | always
renewed my grip during her quiet
spells
What was to be the end of it alp
The dumb brute could maintain heA'