Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-11-29


OF what he had come out there to do
had left his mind. Finally it came TO
him and increased his uneasiness. 1t
had been half IN hour or more since
he left home. He noticed that a
strong wind right out of the west had
come uE. The air had been full Of
smoke all day, but as that had been
the case for many days, it had not
caused him any unusual apprehension.
But az he gradually recovered from the
excitement Of the bears pursuit, seeing
that he was safe from her In the tree,
he noticed that the smoke had grown
much denser. 1t, was 80 dense lat the
height he was from the ground shat it
becoming sitting. He noticed with in.
creasing alarm that 1t was charged
with heat, which came in puffs and
waves somewhere from the woods be-
hind him. He knew what that meant.
The wind had famed the wood fires
to greater vOlurnc, and was driving it
forward with increased rapidity upon
the spot where he was held captive by
the bear. so that it was likely to be an
intOlerable place to remain In.
The heat increased SO that Nelson
could breathe only with difficulty
Burning leaves and glowing twigs be-
gan to fall upon and about him. The
heat and smoke was less where the
bear, With her cubs Mt her heels, had
crOuched low with her nose close to
tho ground. She was determined to
wait for vengeance to the very last.
The wind became stronger. The roar
Of the advancing flames grew louder
and louder. To stay longer in the tree
was impossible. There was no chance
for life there. There was fighting
chance for, il with the bear. Taking
his jack-knifn from his pocket and
opening it, Nelson slid quickly to the
lowest branch of the tree, and swing
ing himself from it struck the ground
three or four feet beyond the bear and
made dash for the road. The bear,
with her head thrust against the
ground, was taken by surprise but she
was up and after Nelson so quickly
that he had but four or five yards the
start of her. But terror almost gave
him wings. He gained on his implaca-
bic pursucr. Burning leaves and
branches fell thickly about him.
The heat was intense. But on he
sped, gaining slowly. but surely on the
bear. To his horror the heat grew
ferccr as he advanced. There was but
one explanation for that. The fire had
greater Roadway in that direction. aud
was approaching nearer the road there.
Suddenly i'll turning Il sharp bend in
the road, Nelson stopped. There was
had reached the road not fifty yards
ahead. lcapcl across it. and a wall Of
roaring fame barred the Way. Nelson
TN
bear was still slouching in tire1css gait
upon his track.
To remain at that spot ten minutes.
perhaps less. meant the most horrible
Of deaths. lii short time the flames
would reach the road along the part
Of it that he had come and shut them
off from escape in that direction. The
woods on the opposite side offered no
avenue Of escape. for they We're but Il
narrow strip of slender growth be-
tween the road and rcSky ledge, per-
pendicular. and nowhere less than ten
feet high. The only way for Nelson to
get beyond the danger Of the fire was
to retrace his steps down the road for
an eight of a mile, and to that he
must contest the way with the infur-
lated bear. now once more upon him.
There was no time to think or plan
Nelson. who had held onto the knife.
pitched blindly into the bear. He does
not know how it all occurred. but he
remembers afierce, but brief hand-to-
hand struggle, from which he emerged
bleeding and battered to find himself
in full flight again down the road. the
bear close behind. the air sitting with
heat and smoke. and fiery fragments
of the burning wood falling about him
in thicker shower than ever.
He had not run long ere the air
grew cooler. and he knew he had pass
ed the danger line Of the fire. But he
was nearly exhausted, and the bear
was still on his trail and. Of course,
tireless. No one ever saw tired bear
1t was mile to the nearest clearing
Nelson knew he could never hold out
to run that far. He resolved to stop
and have it out with her there and
then. At elat moment he almost faint
ed with 10y. In the swayins and jolt