River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-05

/ On the wall of The kitchen hung his
| fathers old fint-lock rifle - always
/ ioaded-and to secure this. with the
powder-horn and bullet pouch, was the
/ work OF an instant.
Then away across the diameter of the
/ great bend sped the young hunter.
/ Every inch Of the surrounding country
/ was familiar to him, and he knew
enough of lazy bear-nature to feel sure
/ that the animal now as he believed.
( bearing Nadge away, would, if not dis
| turbed or alarmed. keep to quiet walk
| along the easy path rather than break
a harder and shorter one for himself
and his somewhat unwieldy burden
\ through the thick underbrush.
Thus the bear. in order to reach his
/ cave. would have to travel fully two
miles. while Rob following an in ersect-
/ ing cow-path. could, by fast running,
] intercept him, provided he had not
4 gained too great a start; and for the
/ rest he would trust to Providence and
his own nerve. "a year or two after
/ this event. when ! myself had become
old enough TO put such a question, |
once asked Rob what his thoughts were
as he ran his desperate race against
4 death. and his reply was in strict keep
/ ing with his noble character: Il hardly
/ know" said he. whether thought at
all just prayed, prayed, prayed that
! might be in time
And now the resolute boy, painting
[ from violent exertion, came out upon
the trail leading to the hills, and which
at this spot was slightly covered by
I dust Almost fainting with anxiety. he
stopped over close 20 the surface
Of the ground. dreading to find
/ evidence that the bear had already
passed. But no; not a track was TO
be seen: and, with a great sigh
of relief. he stationed himself behind a
large linden tree on the edge Of the
path. The time of suspense which fol-
lowed seemed hours long To him, but il
was really a few minutes only before
his sharp young ears caught a gentle
rustling sound. as If of some moving
body softly brushing against the thick
bushes bordering the trail on either side.
Whatever might be coming seemed to
be as vet fifty yards away, around a
curve of the path, aud Rob noiselessly
opened the pan Of his gun-loclz, shook
out the printing. and. replacing it with
fresh powder. stood waiting, without a
thought of fear for himself. but with n
heart 81 loudly beating that it seemed
like To burst.
y moment more. and gray squirrel,
frisEing about the ground some rods
away. uttered a quick chatter of alarm,
and. scurry ing along she path. scampered
swiftly mp the trunk of a neighboring
tree. Apprised by this timely warning
that the crisis was at hand. Rob peered
cautiously from behind his shelter, and
hardly suppressed yell of rage as,
coming slowly along the trail. he saw
an immense. overgrown black bear
walking with head held high and car
ryiug in his jaws the limp form of baby
Madge.
In the flceting gil mpse the boy ven
tured To take, he saw that the child was
held crosswise. face downward, in the
brute's mouth. and. as the latter sham
bled earelessly along, her little hands
and feet occasionally touched the
ground; but still he saw no stains of
blood. and thrill of renewed hope ran
through his nerves-now braced and
steady as steel Nevertheless. as he
afterward explained, the situation was
terrible one. lie could easily shoot
the animal through the body as 1t
passed. but he was well aware that an
old bear. black as well as grizzly. will
! often. even after the heart Is pierced by
4 bullet work deadly havoc; and the
sound Of his shot, 80 fired. would simply
be his sisters death-knell- presuming
that She vet lived No! if he would
save the child. his first shot must either
penetrate the brute'S brain or sever the
I spinal-cOrd. 80 that death or loss of mo-
/ ton should be instantaneous; and vet
he dare not fire from one side at the
bears head lest 10y possible mishap he
/ might strike the little girl; heIfce he re-
solved upon the desperate risk to him
self Of Squarely facing the brute in open
fight
And now the supreme moment had
come,
What slight breeze there was blew
directly across the path toward the
hunter. and thus no betraying scent was
waited 10 the bear. which. totally una
ware Of danger, had arrived within
three feet of the tree hiding his watch
I full enemy. when, with a sharp "Hello.''
the latter sprang ont and blocked his
way
80 sudden was the apparitiOn and so
commanding the young heros mien,
the astounded animal came to full
stop. dropped his prey. and wavered for
I y~E
decision as 10 whether he should attack
or tlv. That instant's hesitation sealed
I his fate: for Rob. throwing the rifle 10
I his shoulder. with an inward prayer
that the flint might not miss fire. placed
/ the muzzle within six inches of the
I brute'S forehead and pulled the trigger.
I The heavy bullet. strikirg Just above
I the line Of the ewes. crashed through
the brain. and the black monster sank
dead To the ground with scarcely the
/ culver II hair.
/ Then the brave boy. trembling like a
Y leaf Tow that 10 fearful tension was
relaxed snelt by the side of his sister
and examined the motloEiess form a.
test he could. To his unspeakable JOY
/ no trace of a wound could ne seen, nor
were the chiid's garments torn, except
I slightly at the back Of the strong waist
| band. by which the bear had evidently
carried her, but, apparently. without
once touching her tender flesh with his
teeth.
II seemed TO be almost miraculous,
7 but Rob. even in the midst of his bound
I less gratitude, rememb ered having read
of a similar escape; and he now hope
fully directed his efforts toward restor-
ing poor little Madge to consciousness.
I This task. however. proved beyord his
skill. and q great revulsion of feeling
came over him as the fearful thought
[ flashed through his mind that perhaps
the fright alone had driven out the
sweet. Young life.
''Oh, If mother We're only here he
cried aloud; and with the wish came
prompt action.
Leaving his rife lying across the
bears carcass. the c-lsletic young fel-
low III ed the child in his strong arms,
and with all possible speed made his
say TO the house. rather more than a
! balf-mile distant
Go soon as he had emerged from the