Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-08-24

M the pols.soon placed the boat arod
ahead Of the pursuing animal Josie had
again reloaded her gun.- and she turned
to deliver his quietusi 70, the animal. But
the commotion in. ths water and the
bear'sevident disquietndsput new face
on matters. and she withheld her fire.
The edog'syelping and tns bears growl-
ing had evidently awakened the acaly
Sdenizens OF the creek toa realizing sense
that it wns mealtimas Missing the dog,
they were not averss 10 bear meat.
brrin, in his hurry to catch his first
prey, had paid little attention TO what
might befall him in the creek. But now
he began to notice the increasing num-
Der of black spots in the water all turn
ing toward him, and probably instinct
told him that hungry gators in their
own element were foe not to be de-
spised.
With an uneasy whine, he attempted
to turn and regain the shore, but now it
was too late. With rush, q big black
form was seen to dart up against him,
and in q second he was seized and dragged
under. The old fellow was game, how
ever, and now that he had got into the
fight he proved No mean antagonist.
With an immenseefort he plunged away
from the attacking gator and dashed
forward forthe shore. The water shoaled,
and it seemed Ne IL he would escape. A
big bull saurian dashed forward and
seized the bear by one Of his hind legs,
while two others swan behind him to
cut of his retreat.
| With a deep roar Of rage, the bear
turned on the one that seized him, and
with one stroke of his paw clawed out
the gators eye. The latter beloved
with pain, and thrashing the water mad,
" plunged forward at bruin. Other
gators Joined m, and the poor animal
was beset on all sides. Sitting on its
launches, with the blood flowing from a
gaping wound in its hind leg, the bear
snapped, clawed and bit at his savage
antagonists, but they were too many for
him.
/. Another seized one of its legs in its
powerful jaws, and with strong effort
drew the beax off into deeper water.
Others dashed at him from all sides,
swapping at him from every point. The
water splashed high and was churned
into snowy whiteness by the furious ef.
forts of the fighters, save where the red
blood told the tale. But few moments
longer did the unequal struggle last
Bruin strove to regain his feet, but tht
cruel jaws of the reptiles closed on hii
legs, sides and wherever hold could b
secured, and with one mighty, agonizint
roar the bear disappeared, while the flu
rious struggle continued under waite
for several seconds.
The girls had gazed on, the fight spell
bound, but now they were rudel.
aroused to their own peril. The dog hat
barked loudly during the savage figh
going on SO near, and the gators win
: missed bear meat seemed to be afte
: dogs flesh. The canoe rocked, almos
overturning, and the startled girls saw
monstrous pair of open jaws right at th
3 side of their small craft. Josie pushe
: her rifle barrel in the gators mouth an
pulled the trigger, sending a bullet wher
> it evidently didn't agree, judging froI
the reptiles sudden sinking and thrash
ing about.
. A moment later huge tail came fly
/ ing over the bow Of the boat, and stril
8 ing the dog, who stood there barking
8 Knocked him into the water. A big pal
Q of wide open jaws was just about
J, close on the tempting morsel when Wi
9 da stopped down, and catching the dog
s forepaws by sudden effort drew hil
o into the boat, the saurian's jaws closin
8 with snap that indicated great disal
J, pointment The dog covered down
d the bottom of the boat, while the gir
g attended to the other gators, who SCENE
J. to manifest an inclination to get into til
q canoe. Several shots were fired at til
reptiles, but their taste Of blood ha
d made them fearless.
n A scream from Josie aroused Wildi
8 who was striving to pole the boat ashor
70 Turning around she saw her sister ha