The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-02-10


safe from her in the tree, he notices
that the smoke had grown much denser
1t was so dense at the height he wa
from the ground that it was becoming
sitting. He noticed with increasing
alarm that it was charged with heat
which came in puffs and waves some
where from the woods behind HIM H.
knew what that meant. The wind hai
famed the wood fires to greater vol
ume, and was driving it forward with
increased rapidity upon the spot where
he was held captive by the bear, sc
that it was likely soon to be an intol
cradle place to remain in.
THE heat increased SO that Nelson
could breathe only with difficulty.
Burning leaves and glowing twigs be.
gan to fall npon and about him. The
heat and smoke were less where the
bear, with her cubs ut her heels, had
crouehcd low, with her nose close to
ground. She was determined TO wait
for vengeance to the very last. The
wind became stronger Tho 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 it with the bear Taking his Jack
knife from his pocket and opening il,
Nelson slid quickly to the lowest
branch of the tree. and swinging him
self from it, struck the ground three or
four feet beyond the bear, and made a
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 implacable pursuer.
Burning leaves and branches fell thick
ly about him
THE heat was intense. But on he
sped. gaining slowly but surely on the
bear. To his horror tho heat grew
fiercer us he advanced. There was but
one explanation for that. The fire had
greater Roadway in that direction, and
was approaching nearer the road there.
Suddenly, in turning sharp bend in
the road, Nelson stopped. There was
no thoroughfare further The flames
had reached the road not fifty yards
ahead, leaped across it, and a wall of
roaring flame barred the way. Nelson
turned and looked behind him. The
bear was still slouching in tireless gait
On his track
ITO remain at that spot ten minutes,
perhaps less, meant the most horrible
Of deaths. In short time the flames
would reach the road along the part of
t that he had come and shut him off
rom escape in that direction. The
woods on the opposite side offered no
avenue of escape, for they were but a
narrow strip of slender growth be-
ween the road and a rocky ledge, per-
'endicular and nowhere less than ten
Get high. The only way for Nelson to
ret beyond the danger of the fire was
o retrace his steps down the road for
N ciglAh of mile, and to do that he
must contest the way with the infuri-
ted bear, now once more upon him.
There was no time to think or plan.
Nelson, who had held on to his knife,
'itched blindly into the bear. He does
lot know how it all occurred, but he
a fierce but brief hand-to-
and struggle, from which he emerged.
Needing and tattered, to find himself
gain in full fight down the road, the
ear close behind HIM, the air sitting
Nth heat and smoke. and fiery frag-
lents of the burning wood falling
bout him in a thicker shower than
yer.
'Hc had not run long before the air
rev cooler, and he knew he had
assed the danger limo of the fire. But
e was nearly exhausted, and the bear
7as still on his trail, and, of course,
reless. No one ever saw tired hear
was mile to the nearest clearing.
'elson knew he could never hold out to
IN that far. The bear was already
aiming on him. He resolved to stop
nd have it out with her there and
len. At that moment he almost
'inted with joy. In the swaying and
'lting of the blackboard as the terror
riken horse had jolted it over the
lad, the rifle had been thrown out,
nd there it lay, ready to Nelson's hand
the side of the road. He had to put |
Tree bullets into the bear before she
IL, and she would not die before he I
I'd fred two more into her. Then he
sted The two cubs came toddling !
ong by and by. And he captured
lem alive, after ALL II
NELSON found his horse at the clear {
6, mile ahead. He went back and !
AIDED his bear upon the blackboard,
hich had endured its lively trip with
It mishap. strange to say, and reached s
me by roundabout way. determined
at he would never mix his freight I
3 and bear-fghting again" r