The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-05-06

immens~.. over<rown black bear
walking with head held high and ear |
rying n his jaws the lump form Of baby
Madge.
Ia the ~iceting glimpse the hoy ven-
tured totakc. he saw that the child was
held crossw i>e. face: downward. in the
brutc's mouth. and. n the latter shan-
BLEED carelessly along. her little hands
and feet occasionally touched the
ground: but still he saw no stains ~
blood. and a thrill 81 renewed hope ran
through his neryeS-now braced aud
steady As steel. Nevertheless. a. he
a~f,erward explained. The situation was
a terrible one. lie could easily shoot
the animal through the body as il
passed. but he was well aware that an
old bear. black as well a. grizzly. win
often. even after the heart j. pierced by
a bullet. work deadly havoc: and the
soundo ~ hi> shot. 80 fired. would simply
be his sisters dcath-knell-pre>uming
that She yet lived. No, II he would
save the child. his first shot must either
penetrate the hrnte's brain or sever the
spinal-cord. - that death or loss of mo-
ton should hr instantaneous: and vet
be dare not fire from one side d, thc'
bears head. lest BY possible mishap he
might sfrisS. the little girl; hence he re-
solved upon the desperate risk 70 him
self ~ sqnarely facing the brute in open
tight.
And now the supreme had
come
What slight breeze there WAS blew
directly across the path toward the
hunter. ana tins no betrnying scent was
waited 10 The bear. which. totally una
ware Of danger. had arrived within
three feet Of the tree hiding MS watch
FIJI enemy. when. with a sharp Hello
the latter sprang out and blocked his
way.
30 sudden was the aprarition and 50
commanding the Young hcro's mien,
the astounded animal came to a full
stop. dropped his prey. and wavsred for
a breath r two in kind Of stupid in
decision a. TO whether he should attack
or fiy. That instnnt's hesitation sealed
his fate; for Rob. throwing he rifle q
his shoulder. with an inward prayer
that the flint might not miss fire. placed
the muzzlc within six inches Of tho
brute's forehead and pulled the trigger
The heavy bullet. striking just abov
the line Of the eyes. crashed through
the brain. and the black monster sanl
dead to the ground with scarcely tn
culver Of "A hair.
Then the brave boy. trembling like
leaf. now that the fearful tension wa
relaxed. knelt by the side Of his sistc
and examined the motionless form a
best he could. To his unspeakable 10.
no trace of 4 wound could be seen. no
/, were the child's garments torn. excep
slightly at the back Of the strong waist
? band. BY which the bear had evidentl
carried her. but. apparently. withou
once touching her tender flesh with hi
: teeth.
1t seemed to be almost miraculous
bur Rob. even in the midst Of ms bouns
! less gratitude. remembered having rea
Of a similar escape; and he now hops
r fully directed his efforts toward resto
1 ing poor little Madge TO consciousness
This task. however, proved beyond h
4 skill. and a great revulsion Of feelir
r came over him as the fearful though
I flashed through his mind that perhal
the fright alone had driven out Il
sweet. young life
; .sOh. If mother were only here" !
4 cried aloud; and with the wish can
e prompt action.
! Leaving his rife lying across Il
r bears carcass. the athletic young Il
low lifted the child in his strong arm
: and with all possible speed made h
: way to the house. rather more than
! half mile distant
= 50 soon as he had emerged from Il
woods and while yet several hundr'
Q wards from home. he saw his mothe
after her own fraitle>s sas-ch. sfandiI
\ at the open door. and wringing h
\ hands in impotent anguish. She caug
: sight Of. and ran swiftly TO meet q
pair.
81 But 50 deep and deathlike W
K '-baby's- swoon that even TO her G
K perienced eyes it seemed extreme
II doubtful whether life vet remained
n the delicate form: and the poor womi
broke into pitifnl means Of grief. .
snatching the little one 70 her bo>ol
She rushed frantically backto the Q
u But pretty Madgc was not dead n
even hurt, and d few minutes Of b
mothers skillfnlly applied exertio
e suficed TO kindle one more q
ID healthful glow the Pickering vi
,r spark. Then. while enciriing b
,e children in her arms. the happy WON
Isobbcd out her JOY and thanksgivir
re- and the little innocent told how she j
4 wandered of along the fence. p.cki
y berries. and when STOPPING down
Iy rescue her dropped ribbon. had Is
Al caught mp BY "a great big black thin
AZ and then-she knew nothing more
When told rAaf had carried her (
N and how she had been rescued. I
IN child. wrththat touching faith which
Ii tie girls ever have in big brothers. .
Dy lessly exclaimed:
he .Oh. bruddcr Wob can kill mos ~
&c thin. 4 s'pose the wicked bear wo'
I'd have a me All up for his supper =
Nv then muddcr would have no baby.
10 poor faddcr would he awful sorry.
IN Mr.. Morgan. having rot an ca
. turn at the mill. came home q
he same evening just before dark. and
Of ter having heard. with infinite Q
IL nride and ioy. the wondrouS tale.