The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-10

As the canoe neared the spot there
was a sudden plunge on the part of the
animal and the huge bulk vanished
for moment
Lost" exclaimed Roy.
Before Phi could reply. something
dark and wet rose almost underneath
the fraiI canoe and the next moment
he saw the taifran in the grip Of a
bear The great paws, looking doubly
formida BILE in the unsteady light of the
torch with the weight Of the hear,
threatened to overturn 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
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 ami redoubled
his efforts To scale the fragile rampant
Finding that he could not get a shot
at the bear a. Roy backed the boat of.
Phil struck with all his might with the
gun. bringing the heavy stock down
uyOE the huge head. He shattered
tie weapon 10y the blow. while he APP
parent, left the skull Of his antagon-
isg aDIus sBTed-
In smother movement the bear
lunged forward again, and the canoe
al the same time striking a rock was
eapsized, spillinE its occupants into
the water and putting ont the torch
All this happened IN a second. a. il
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 IL oH1 into the river,
where IL was caught in a swift current
and carried along like feather
This Is better than drowning among
the rocks-or heing eaten up by the
bear" said Phil a. he looked back
But we've lost our Thanksgiving bear
steak. I guess
Lost the bear?" cried Roy. sharply,
a. his face whitened- Look yonder.
He - still clinEing to the stern OF the
boat"
This avas true. as could be seen by
the moonlight which at that particu-
lar place tell through the trees upon
the edd Wing waters The two boys
stared al the boIn,ly head lifted above
the tide and at the sharp claws that
seemed To dig their way into the
woodwork Al stern The bear held on
ssiih a death grip a. the current bore
the canoe and the Young Nimrod> rap
IDLY down the stream now narrowly
missing sssme haIf-suBkeB tree. and
now nearly capsizing again a. Roy
tried 10 escape d hidden rock
What shall we do cried Phil at
last. a. he turned 4 frightened fac. to-
ESard has companion The bear = de-
tsTmimed To prove our Jonah aad al
a short time we shall reach the fails "
--JUt him loose" said Row. "AO1
have your knife. haven you?"
Phil hailed the suggestion with a
cry of joy. and brought from the
depths OF his pocket Il big jack-knife,
and in another moment he leaned to-
ward the bear in their wake
Instead of striking at the throat,
| which was exposed. be drove the keen
kslade into one of the feet, near the
rsslt Of the claws. and drew y toward
him The bear grovled savagely. but
| Phil brayely faced the beast, and sew
cred ske other foot likewise
"A tys,s, 4 tree rang out Roy's
voice a; this moment and before Phil
could duck tss head the canoe struck
tine obstacle jB ST" middle of the Little
! Red. and in a !I1fH they We're Ia the
4 water again and sta ygling 10 grasp
the limbs of the lodged tree
in this they were sloeessfnl, and
1 when they had drawn them H-selyes up
among the branches they looked 1T one
another with grim smiles They kney
4 that they were destined to pass the
! night in the tree, which they did, and
SheH day came they found themselves
near d Pisptation-
By dlBt u shouting until they We're
hoars. they tnade themselves heard,
and were rescued by several plantsl-
tion hands. one II yhOm discovered
xhe bear lodged ia auotber tree a lit
ti- farther down the river The aEi-
mai was dead, and when be sras draw
ASHORE the boys related their thrilling
! experirace with his bearship the night
J before
a wagon vas procured and the home
1 ward journey began. and in ample sea
s,,u Cor dinner the boys arrived with
! the TlIanl1sEigiH bear
The canoe, which had been swept
| underneath the tree. SSas never found
but Phil aad Roy were willing t. lost
1t since they had saved themselves and
the well-Svou body of old Ephraim
but the next Thanksgiving. and TIA,
next. they were careful To pros ide fol
10y daylight. for their thrilling tire
hunt ON the Little Red was not SOL
forgOtten.-CleveIan Leader.