The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-09-28


he saw the taffrail in the grip OF a
bear. The great paws, looking doubly
formidable in the unsteady lightof the
torch. with the weight of the bcIr.
threatened to ovcrturn the boat. and
the ugly head with wide mouth bleed
ing from the boys shot. was enough
, to send chills of terror to the NimrOds
hearts.
'Back Off" cried Phil, as he saw
that the canoe was almost among the
rocks and liable to be capsized by their
foe.
Roy sprang anew to the paddles. and
as Phil rose in the boat to thrust the
rifle into the bears face and terminate
the contest. the animal made desper-
ate effort to climb aboard.
The situation was now full OF peril
and the rocking of the boat in the
swift waters caused the torch to scat
ter rain of fire over the devoted boys
and the bear, but the beast only
blinked his little eyes and redoubled
his efforts to scale the fragile rampant.
Finding that he could not get shot
ut the bear as Roy backed the boat Off,
Phil struck with all his might with the
gun, bringing the heavy stock down
upon the huge head. He shattered
the weapon by the blow, while he ap-
parently left the skull of his antagon-
list uninj ured.
In another movement the bear
lunged forward again, and the canoe
at the same time striking rock was
capsized, spilling its occupants into
the water and putting out the torch.
All this happened in second, as it
seemed. and the boys thus thrown into
the stream, and at the mercy of the
bear and current, struggled to right
the canoe and Chamber in again.
After awhile they succeeded, and
Roy, who was fortunate enough to re-
tain one paddle, pushed the boat from
the rocks and sent it out into the river
where it was caught in swift current
and carried along like feather.
This is better than drowning among
the rochs--or being eaten up by the
bear" said Phil, as he looked back.
but we've lost our Thanksgiving bear
steak. guess.
Lost the bear?" cried Roy, sharply,
as his face whitened. Look yOnder.
lie is still clinging to the stern of the
boat"
This was true, as could be seen by
the moonlight which at that particu-
lar place fell through the trees upon
the eddying waters. The two boys
stared at the homely head lifted above
the tide and at the sharp claws that
seemed to dig their way into the
woodwork ut stern. The bear held on
with Il death grip as the current bore
the canoe and the young Nimrods rap
idly down the stream, now narrowly
missing some half-sunIen tree. and
now nearly capsi2.ng again as Roy
tried to escape I. hidden rock.
''Wha; shall we doc" cried Phil at
last, Ia, Ia: turned frightened face to-
WAY i hi, companion. The bear is de-
termi... to prove our Jonah. and in
sh".', ~: We snail reacA the falls.
Cut AHA loose" said i:ov. "You
have v"nr ':nife, haven't you?''
Phil h.>ilci the .uyge>tion with a
cry OF jo;. ami brought from the
depths OF his pocket a big jAck-llnife,
and il a.u.h,r moment he leaned to-
war the bear in their wake.
Instead OF striking at the throat.
which W.. exposed. he drove the keen
bl;sdo iu, one Of the feet, near the
root OF the claws, and drew it toward
him. The bear growled savarely. but
Phil bravcly aocd the beast. and sew
cred the other foot likewise.
"A tree! 4 tree rang out Rows
voice Il: this moment, and before Phil
conll TX his head the canoe struck
the oil. t;.cle in the middle of the Little
Rel. a:.i ia il jiffy they were in the
water =. an and struggling to grasp
the liinj. OK the lodged tree.
In this they were successful, and
when til:v hal drawn themselves up
am"'':' 81: launches they 10, ,:.2d at one
an.'.i.,.l' sr:tli grim smiles. They knew
that tii:f were destined to pass the
night ia ~: Tree, which they did, and
when as. zane they found themselves
near p!.a!;ta tion.
by dit &; ,..iouting until they were
hoara. t.icE made themselves heard,
and nir. rescued by several planta-
sion ha:l.i>. one OF whom si%c,y red
the oc,.r ih. ,ed in another tree a lit
lie farther down the river ':'he AMI
nal u.As deal. and when he was drawn
ashore t.l1 boys related their thrilling
;xpr: .ence with his bearship the night
before.
wagon was procured and the home
war! Journey began. and in ample sea
son i,r l;.l.icr the boys arrived with
the II 49,. giving bear.
The =. <. which had been swept
un.i-.':. - the tree. was never found.
buk pa $. A! Roy were wiil';.y To- lose
it sioc. = had saved the j. .,,!y sand
the 49, won body Of Oh r., aim;
huL Il ;,..x: Than,,.givin AMI the
ncXt. .:t.y were careful to p4'nvid.. for
by 'layil ut. for their thrilling fire
hunt on the Little Red WAS not soon