The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-07-25

IN mind to undo job himself. Then
the mothers, whose age might have
bees expected to give them discretion,
were as crazy ms tho lambs To add
to the worry, the snakes were begin
ming to come out from their winter
nap.
Latc in the afternoon, the ewes,
with n chorus of strange whistles,
went tearing and galioping over the
swale and disappeared over the brow
OF the ridge M IL the very wolves were
after them. Claudio started in pur.
suit, but the lambs hung Mt his heels,
in spite of n bombnrdment of words
and pebbles that he directed Mt them,
and whenever he paused, pranced up
to him and muzzled against his legs
and dropped contentedly at his very
feet.
Pulling of his coat, Claudio swung
1t vigorously about him to clear II
space, leaped over tho backs of few
loiterers and went running up slope
at gait it was wonder to see. The
coat dropped from his hand as he
Jumped gulley, and as the lambs
came stumbling along several trippod
on it, and, finding it warm, promptly
sprawled upon their knees and began
to nurse at whatever rag or tag they
first found. And the others, fancying
that they were being robbed of their
dinner, crowded and jostled about,
butting, falling down, clambering
over one another.
Claudio might have laughed at the
sight; but when he came back, fifteen
minutes later, he saw about the coat
only lot of little white patches,
smeared with blood. Here and there
lamb was to be seen, wandering dis.
consolstely about or fallen exhausted
under shrub. And over the farther
swale was just disappearing big,
dark, shambling figure, with two
white objects shining upon l..
1t was all plain enough. The ewes,
scenting the bear from afar as he
sneaked through the woods, had fed
incontinently; and, taking advantage
Of Claudio's brief absence, Bruin had
sailed from the jumpers, played
havoc among the lambs (which were
too stupid to fear even him), and was
now making OFF with couple "for
future reference"
The bear, like bears always, was
only anxious to get away. When
Claudio came in full view of him and
only 100 yards behind, he whipped
from his belt the six.shooter he car
ried in lieu of rife. "Throwing
down." in the swift, instructive mo-
tion of those who really know how TO
use revolver, and never stop to ask
whether it has sights or not, he sent q
leaden proxy running for him. It
was good shot, tired and at speed as
he was-the kind of shooting one had
to learn ON the frontier and cannot
learn in a gallery. The bear turned
complete somersault, and, gather
ing himself again, began bitilg
viciously at his body. Claudio had
not stopped at all; but now, within
thirty yards, he halted and watched
for the brute to give him shot at a
vital part. But in that very instant
the bear, with shuttle OF rage,
wheeled and came galloping at his late
puIbuer.
Claudio drove square shot at the
skull-not in any notion that he could
bore that sloping forehead, but hsp-
ing the rap might startle the beast
into rising, SO that he could get o
chance at the throat, the best OF all
shots at bear. But the heavy bal
merely plowed red furrow up the
squat skull. and the bear came lurch.
ing on. 1t was worse than useless to
run. Slender az was the chance oi
life now, it all lay in standing firm.
Within six feet the huge brute did
rear up his launches; and, springini
back step, Clsudio was bringing
down his weapon IT, ''let go" when il
should be on level with that mighty
throat, now fully exposed. But thu
bear was no innocent; aud. cleverly