Rock Island Argus., 1896-07-13

Hts Companions The Geology Class |,
Found Something In the Rockies 1t !
Wasn't Looking For.
It was in September--and the Colo |
RADIO sun had done its duty and made |
Phil "a brown of face and stout of limb |
as any Of us-that the geology class,
consisting Of the professor and ten pu-
pills, made IN excursion into the range
with the object Of taking q practical
lesson among the limestone beds at the
back Of Lincoln park.
Away we went-feeling very hilar-
iOus ut the idea Of making an independ-
ent expedition, even with Blinkers for
general-scramblin over rocks and
fallen trees, chasing squirrels and chip
munks, throwing stones at birds and
rabbits, and behaving generally Just
like what we were-a parcei oe school
boys.
Presently we emerged from the trees
and came out upon another little open
parklikc stretch Of ground. Half way
across it our attention was suddenly at
tracted by u stir among some high grass,
and out jumped little, dark colored,
short legged animal. which looked like
u woolly pig-if there be any such
thing in nature.
Away it scuttlcd, and away we all
went, with a shout, III pursuit.
Phil happened to be some distance
behind at the moment, being busily ell
gagged in digging a tarantula's nest out
Of the ground with his knife; but as
soon as he saw what we We're doing he
came racing after US. shouting: Look
out! Look out! It's a.
We did not hear what, we were max
ing SO much noise ourselves
But the little animal, whatever it
was, was too quick for US and disap-
peared into some willows while we were
| still 90 yards behind. The next moment
the willows waved and bent and out
bounced great she bear-a grizzly!
With yell of dismay we all turned
and. scattering like flock of sparrows
when u cat jumps into the midst of
them. fed for the nearest trees. Blink
crs, quite forgetting that he was the
general Of the little expcditionary force,
made such use of his long legs that he
was safely mp tree before any Of the
rest Of us had reached one.
| As for me, l never reached one at all.
In turning to run l tripped over the
TX. and though was up again in an in
slant the check made me the last of the
fugitiycs.
The chase was very soon over. In six
jumps, as it seemed, the great beast
caught me, and, with one blow Of her
paw on the middle of my back, sent me,
face downward, to the ground. with ev-
cry atom of breath driven out Of my
body.
This last circumstance was good
thing for me; could not have moved a
muscle if had wished to. Consequently
the bear supposed that was dead, and
instead Of tearing me up into small
pieces, as I expected. she began shifting
me all over and turning me about with
her claws
Suddenly, however, she ceased ant
began to growl, and 1 heard Blinker
up in his tree call out. "GO back! Yo,
can't do any good. You'll only ge
yourself killed too" From which con
cludcd that Blinkers and the bear hat
one thought in common; they both sup
posed me to be dead.
was beginning to recover my brcatl
q little by this time, and in my anxiet,
to see what was going forward l mad
q slight movement with one arm, an,
in an instant the bear had that arm be
tween her teeth. 1t hurt me so horribl
that tainted, and all that happenc
aftcrward ! gathered from the othc
boys.
Phil, when he saw me knocked down
instead of climbing up Il tree like til
rest. ran back to where 1 had dropre
the ax, and. picking it up, advanced
my rescue.
1t was mad thing to do, there is u
doubt about that; but Phil did it-an
without thought Of his own danger
1t was in vain that Blinkers called I
him to so back; he did not seem to heal
but kept coming Oh slowly, with h
!. eyes fixed on the bear, and the AK hel
! i'll readiness to strike.
III The bear dropped my arm and at
vanced n step, standing across my bod,
growing and turning up her lips unit
all her great white teeth were expose,
but still Phil came on. At six feet di
tance Inc stopped. The bear took a ste
forward, and then another. and thel
with all the strength of his body doubl,
), by the intense excitement of the m
ment. Phil struck ut her with such for
% and precision that he split her sku
g clean in two.
ss But, even in dying. the bear succeed,
he in doing some mischief.
E. With last conyulsive effort 81
: struck out, and. with her great claw
tore away the front of Phil's coat. ve
and shirt. and made three deep cuts ,
y. across his chest from the left should
diagona!ly downward. Another in
and Phil must certainly have been kille
As it was. he stood for moment swa
q ing to and fro, and then fell forwa
= upon tho dead body of the bear. r.-"Gri
ely Phil" by Sidford F. Hamp, in
= Nicholas
The Warden Of Oxford.
y