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

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scending hand with q calculation an
Indian eye might have cnvied. and
sent the heavy revolver spinning forty
feet, going OIL as II ilcw. And In nm.
other instant the shepherd was ON his
back and the bear upon him.
The great claws had struck only the
siS-shootcr, aud Claudio's hand was
unhurt, save wherc tho violent wrench
ing of the guard had cut and twisted
his fingers; and instiuctively he
grippcd deep in the thick fur where
| first his hands lighted. Neither had
ho been hurt by the fall, for here wns
soft gray sand which little relieved,
too, tho fearful pressure upon his legs.
But none Of these things comforted
Claudio and he fought only M n man
fights blindly 90 the end. His last
faint hope hal gone when the six.
shooter went whirling far beyond
| reach
The bear, which had gono 90 bed in
his cave in the canon of Acobache, roll
ing-fat, in November, but few days
ago come forth from that long nap,
the shadow ~ his proper self lIis
long, heavy fur was sadly rusted, and
his huge frame lean M n rail He Ind
been interrupted In tho frat square
meal in five months; and from that
long fast came two strange results.
One was, that ho was not half himself
in strength; and that the powerful
young Mexican was therefore some
thing more than puppet in his paws.
OF tho end certainly, there could be
no doubt; but meantime, Clnudio
wrestled nightly, and even succeeded
in struggling to his feet, hugging close,
to give those paws no chance for the
swipcs that would make an eggshcll of
his head. His face ho snuggled into
the bears chest, and 30 kept clear of
the dripping jaws. And despite the
fearful pressure under which his ribs
creaked and sprung, he hunchcd and
tuged and swayed biindly and desper-
ntely, M wrestling with some tall man
whom he might hope to pitch at last.
But II was not for long.
Finding these close quarters unsatis.
factory, tho bear brought up his mus
cular arm, aud clapping it's paw upon
Clnudio's mat OF hair foIced hin head
resistlessly back. The great claws we're
buried in his scalp, and little streams
of red spurted out. Tho bears left
arm was around his waist, while the
right was giving him the "break hold"
M scientifically as any wrestler could
have done. And now villainous
warm breath came sickeningly in his
face, and he could see the red Jaws and
white teeth within six inches. lie
even noticed with that strange incon-
sequences which comes upon n man in
these moments, that blood from the
scalp wound had run down and tinged
the froth which dripped from great
mouth. In frenzy of terror he
caught n clutch under tho throat, TO
hold back that horrible head-and the
strongest man could scarce have bent
against Claudio's desperate arms. But
IL was only question of little longer.
Slowly, slowly, those resistless neck
muscles bore down Claudio's iron
arms; and the big jaws, working
grimly, drew nearer. A deathly faint
ness began to spread from Ills stomach,
and Claudio shut his eyes.
Just then sudden jerk ran through
the be- dy of the bear, and there was n
sharp snorta Of rage or pain. Claudio
opened his eyes. He could see nothing
but that demvIiac face; but in it he
fancicd there was Lew expression.
Then there was sickening movement
of the great claws which had sunk
deep into his lack and scalp Surely
they we're relaxingl Their withdrawal
was far more painful than their en-
trance had been; but even with the
faintness of the new pain, sudden
wave of Joy swept through the shop
herd-for the first time, now, he
hoped, thou yh he knew not why. He
shook his head savagely, to clear the
blood which streamed down over his
eyes (tLe paw had dropped from his
scalp and dug his fists into tho deep
furred throat, and fought with the
strength of two Claudios-fghting no
lCager AZ a dying rat fights, but like
man for hope OF life.
Then very wonderful thing befell.
The bear was groaning and painting
heavily; and suddenly it lurched and
tell to the ground, carrying Claudio
with it. But it was no longer trying
to get his head between its jaws. For
moment he lay half upon him,
writhing and grinding its teeth, and
then flung itself to one side, biting up
great IN mouthful of sand Claudio
leaped to his feet, ran to the six
shooter and fell upon it, crying like a
child. II was ten minutes before he
could get up, for loss of blood-and
more than all, the frightful train
had left him limp as a rag. At last he
staggered to his feet, clutching the
six shooter, and walked unsteadily
toward the bear.
Laying down his revolver he caught
the heavy fur to turn the bear over.
Ordinarily he would have succeeded.
Four hundredweight is no fool of
lump, but Claudio, as you have seen,
was an uncommonly powerful young
man. Now, however, worn out by
his fearful struggle and with nerves