The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-25

gress his companion was making with the
dynamite bomb. His bearship thereupon
again stood on his hind feet, blinked his
eyes, whined, opened his mouth, twisted
his jaws, and licked his chops with that
red tongue I'm a manner that did not az
all reassure the two men.
Hurry, Bill, hurry exclaimed Met
calfe.
Higgins then a second time threw the
dynamite. A second time 1t failed to ex-
plode; a second time the bear ambled away
and a second time turned back and took
up his old position.
During the second temporary retreat of
the persistent animal, Metcalfe grabbed
up the pickax and Higgins after fixing a
third piece of dynamite with cap and fuse,
grabbed up the ak.
zone Of us will have to gor exclaimed
Metcalfe, but Wen stand together. Good
by, Billy. If he gets me-
"Good-by, Charley" replied Higgins, but
Wen try to see that he gets neither of u.s.
Metcalfe hastily and foolshly decided
TO have the agony over and proceeded to
hurry up matters Picking up a big rock
he threw IL, and struck the bear a fearful
blow on the abdomen. The animal gave
roar Of pain and turned round and round
In a manner that made the gravel fly. He
then started toward Metcalfe, but stopped
and stood upright when he raised his pick
ak and stood in defensive attitude.
BillyH' cried Metcalfe, as he aimed blow
at the animals head.
The bear, with all the dexterity of a
Fitzsimmons, not only parted the blow.
but struck the pickax with his powerful
paw and sent it flying into the bushes.
Higgins threw the ak and struck the ami
NAL a blow in the flank that made him
drop Metcalfe and whirl round and round
with pain and surprise, which he showed
with growis that were simply terrifying.
Metcalfe, retreating, after losing his
pckax, stumbled over a fallen log and
struck the earth with such force that he
thought he was killed. Just as he had
partly scrambled to his feet, he was
thrown to the ground a second time in a
half-stunned condition. He heard a loud
report, and was half covered with flying
dirt and gravel.
In a few moments he regained his senses.
His face was cut and bleeding and his
body was covered with painful bruises.
Less than ten feet away lay the bear a
harmless, mangled, bloody mass. A few
yards to the right lay Higgins, insenslble.
but stlll alive He also was cut and bruis-
ed with flying gravel and stones.
Metcalfe picked up a basin, filed It with
water in the edge of the swamp and dash
ed 1t in the face of hls companion. He soon
regained consciousness but his left arm
hung broken and helpless at his side
After throwing the ak. Higgins acted
piotuplly anu eIlectlVely. he HSnteQ the
fuse which had been attached to the third
piece of dynamite and threw it squarely
under the bear. A deafening explosion soon
followed, and, while the effect was hard on
the prospectors, it eliminated the bear
from the problem. A great hole was torn
in the animals flank and its backbone was
broken Death came Ia an instant.
The men were eighty miles from Rat
Portage. Metcalfe fixed up Higgins arm
as well as possible Taking their blankets
and little food, they took up a slow and
painful march ten miles through the
woods to a stream. Padding twenty-five
miles down stream in a birch-bark can
oe, they reached the Canadian Pacific rail-
! road track and two hours later were for
/ tunate enough 10 catch fast freight into
4 Rat Portage. There medical and surgical
aid was secured for Higgins, and in a few
/ weeks he was ready for another prospect
/ ing trip. Metcalfe had had enough OF e.
| however, and as soon as he could dispose
of mining claim returned to his home in
Toronto, where danger from black bears
Is suppanted by that Of the trolley cars
and CITY pavements.