The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-07-13

they had not done before, and the
proximity of = tree convenient for
climbing would have added vastly 70
my comfort just then. The absence Of
such feature made me unappreciative
Of the grand and savage spectacle that
the bear presented As he stood facing
me, his forefeet planted on the elk, his
magnificent coat Of black and silver
bristling and changing In shade as the
hair sligktly shifted in the wind, while
the low, intense monotone of his
growl vibrated thrillingly through tho
silence OF the ice fiold above the clouds
''Thc growl increased TO a roar, and
! stopped. 1t was well for me that
did so at the moment, for checked
my steps at the edge OF wide rift In
the ice that yawned deeply at my very
feet So absorbed was / in watching
the bear that had not perceived It.
AS drew hastily back a large frng-
ment OF Ice broke from under my feet.
and heard IL crash and splash far
down In torrent whose rushing
should have heard before had not my
attention been wholly taken up by the
more porteutous sound of the bear. He
had already seemed on the point of
starting for me. as was evident by the
thrusting forward of his head and his
uneasy moving of his shoulders. My
backward spring and the crash of his
falling ice was all that was needed to
determine the matter with him. and in
another instant he was over and past
the elk and coming for me at shamb-
lfftfr al
ally TO swallow the space that lay be-
tween MS.
1T was time 10 get my rife TO work
and to shoot fast, and gave him a
bullet aimed at his breast little TO tho
left. The only effect of the shot was
to change the bears shamblc to n gall
lop. My rifle not being of a magazine
pattern, had to put in fresh cart
ridge for every shot / made. That
did SO quickly that was able to give
him second shot aimed at the same
place while he was running toward me.
AT the edge OF the creva $50 be halt
ed with surprising suddenness, felt tho
strength Of the ice with his paws, and
ran back and forth. seeking place TO
cross. / kept my rifle going, planting
shots into his side and shoulder, from
which the blood was now pouring fast
from several wounds AZ last, instead
of turning, he ran along the crevasse
with the apparent intention of round
ing its end. IL closed one hundred and
fifty PAGES down TO the left and at
about an equal distance away on the
right. What might be the strength of
Of water could only guess. ! had TO
take my chances on its holding me up,
SO down ran 10 the other end Of the
crevasse, and, making wide circuit,
came up on the other side as the bear
dashed down the side i had quilted.
We passed opposite each other, the
bear coming as near the crevasse as he
dared in his furious efforts 20 reach
me, and showing no sign that he was
! wounded except by The bleeding.
II kept pouring my shots In upon
him, aiming still at the shoulder or be-
hind IT, Again he turned his course
down the sides of the crevasse, TO fol-
low me round the end that had
passed. Again shifted round to the
other side and once again we faced
each other on the sides we had origin
ally occupied. kept cracking mt him
with my Maynard as he ran back and
forth, stretching forth his head ms II to
reach me across the chasm. Now for
the first time l noticed that he was
weakening and blood was pouring
from his mouth and nostrils. His turns
became shorter, until at last he
stopped, staggered, then suddenly
pitched forward toward the crevasse.
He was already dangerously near the
edge The hollow, overhanging Ice
broke beneath his weight and great
section of 1t crashed down with him
into the depths.
~ was safe after my bear fight,
thanks to the crevasse. had killed my
first grizzly. a magnificent silver tip,
and--had lost him. walked toward
the edge OF the crevasse, where, look
ing lengthwise down the sides, ! could
get a partial view OF the bottom.
Tn ere lay the bear dead on his side,
da mining the course Of the swift
stream, which circles ripping round
him. as 1t would have swept round mo
had not his first roar caused me to
step so OPPORTUNITY back.
ELK killing didn't seem half SO
great an achievement as il did before
the bear had mixed In with the pro-
ceedings, and / should have liked TO
swap the carcass on the ice for the
beautiful silvercd skin down In the
depths of the chasm. But that couldn't
be, so curved away a haunch, hacked
| out the nntlers with my prospector's
Ratchet, and came slipping and sliding
down the mountain side TO join fny
companions, who were toiling up the
ascent TO find out what had become OF
me."--N. Y. sun.
The Preservation OF Wood.