The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05

each carried under his right paw fiat piece
OF board resembling a slab from a tree.
Curious to know more, Tim remained
quiet and waited developments.
FoUR-FooTED COASTERS.
At length the bears reached the top of
the bill and halted. Then Wicks noticed
that there was a narrow strip from the summit
to the foot ofthe mountain, that was free from
trees aud bushes. At the top OF this the
bears were now standing. Suddenly one
Of them dropped his board fiat on the snow
and seated himself upon It, and then waved
his paws An instant later he was shooting
down the mountain at break-ueck speed.
Over the crust he flew; the board was
perfect toboggan. He was making a mile
a minute, but OF course never realized his
danger Before the first one was half way
down he was followed by the other two In
quick succession, and almost at the same
moment they dashed across the level and
bumped into the opposite hill. Tim Wioks
sat down and laughed. The idea of bears
coasting was mighty ludicrous TO him. He
enjoyed it so much that he watched them
for half an hour. 1t was easy enough to ex-
plain the grating noise now.
Now, Wicks had come out expressly to
kill something. but three full grown bears
was rather a large contract and he hesi-
tated. Had there been but one he would
have worked his way carefully 20 the foot
OF the hill and when the coaster arrived at
the end Of his ride, he would have "plunked"
a bullet into him. AS IL was, all three bears
were due about the same time and Ia the
''plunkingp they would ia all probability
take an active part. 80 Tim sat and
watched them. with the hope thss he
might get chance at one.
AN UNSEEN DANGER.
About half way down this mountain 90
boggan slide was an immense rock. IL
stood Just to the left OF the path and be-
yond IL the descent was almost perpendlcus
lar. A person standing on the rock could
Jump directly into she valley that lay
about IT'S feet below. The open space down
which the bears ooasted was separated from
this sudden depression by fringe OF trees
and consequently was free from danger In
that direction unless the board should strike
the rock straight enough to pitch the bear
over; then the result was bound TO be disas-
trous TO the bear. All this Wioks did not
notice until it was impressed upon him
most startlingly. Wioks had been OBJ
serving the sport for at least half an hour,
but had boon given no opportunity TO get
In a shot He had about concluded TO veer
of TO the right and leave them in peace
when something happened that temporarily
glued him 10 the spot.
The bears were now at the top Of the
slide and were preparing to descend. The
usual argument was in progress az TO which
should preoede. Suddenly one flung down
his board and started. Whether he had not
properly balanced himself or whether the
board was broken, Wicks never knew, bus
something went wrong ere the bear had
gone fifty feet. he was making strenuous
efforts to keep In the path. He would lean
far over to the right; then quickly to the
left. OF course, be was going now at full
speed. Instead Of running perfectly
straight his course was zig-zag. IL seemed
impossible that he should make che entire
descent without accident. AS no neared the
big rock the board lurchsd suddenly toward