The Monitor-register., 1897-01-15

So "ouo vi ILLS, Out SDo Qlu not, ana
went on her way down the steep path in
good spirits, Lucy following close behind.
AS they reached the fence in the woods
cloud was over the moon, and it Was
quite dark; but she could see dim figure
OF the other side.
David, have you been waiting long ?"
she called out, and handed the baby over
in hurry, turning as she did so to see
what was the matter with Lucy; for the
child clupg to her skirts in fright, and
cried out that it wasn't David.
When with some difficulty she had
lifted her over the fence, struggling and
crying still, and had herself climbing
over-Mrs. Brown was not as active as
she had been-there was no one in sight.
"David!'' she cried. She heard
rustling in the bushes; but the moon,
shining out at that instant, showed the
place empty. "Davidw she cried again,
in terror.
Then he appeared just at the bend of
the mountain path whistling cheerily and
with Spot leaping and barking at his
heels. But sohere soas tho baby?
For he had called out to her to give
him the child as sooD as he had caught
sight of her, and David was not given to
fooiing. She could not answer for her
sobbing and crying.
Lucy tried to tell him the strange
story. When she said "a big, black,
shaggy man." he threw himself on the
ground, examining every mark. Spot
smelled too, and his yellow hair began to
bristle with rage, and he growled fiercely,
for there were surely the recent footprints
of some large animal.
"Mother, run back and rouse the
neighbors. Tell 'em to bring their
rifles" and. breaking off stout stick,
David dashed into the bushes. Spot
springipg in front and leading the chase.
Once David thought he heard a half.
stified baby's cry, and hurried faster.
For 'commor-sized" boy, he was
making good speed; but Madam Bruin
was on the homo stretch, and she knew it.
At last he caught a glimpse of big,
clumsy. dark forW, trottipg hriskly along
with what seemed like bundle dangling
from its mouth. He was note too soon.
The cave in which the little black cubs
rolled about, impatient for their supper, ,
was but hundred years or so distant
He thought she must be near home by
her quiokened gait, and he knew, if she
ever got the baby inside it's black, yawn-
ing mouth, there would be no hope of
bringing it out alive.
With the energy of despair he darted
forward and gave the bear sharp blow
over the nose with his long stick. Spot
closed In at the same moment, yelpipg
and swapping at her legs.
The hugh beast, enraged but not hurt
by this Simultaneous attack, dropped the
baby, and reared up on her hind legs,
looking in the mingled moonlight and
shadow SO like human figure that
David did not wonder afterward at his
mothers mistake. She showed her sharp,
white teeth with fierce snarl, and
stretched out her fore paws for grapple.
She was near her own babies now, and
she meant fight.
David looked at the precious bundle,
it lay just under the creatures terrible
claws and to attempt to pick it up would
have placed him utterly at the bears
mercy, unless her attention could be
diverted
cat her. Spot! at her. good dogp' he
shouted; and again he rained shower of
blows on her eyes and nose so quick and
fierce that, blinded and confused for the
instant, she backed step or two growl
ing horribly.
Spot Inflicted sharp bite on her hind
quarter, and she turned her head, it was
his only chance. Quick as a fash he
seized the baby and fed, leaving poor
Spot to receive terrific blow from the
vi uoo o paws o1 utCu uc, bOO, uIOk0 duu
ran, the blood streaming from his wound,
and bowling at every jump.
Half~ay down the mountain they met
the Martins with dogs and torches. The
bear, after fierce fight, was brought to
bay and killed, and the poor little cubs
taken captive.
Old Martin united with rough but
trembling fingers the knot he had laughed
at-the knot which had saved the baby's
soft limbs from the bears teeth. David
hardly dared to be certain that he had
heard cry iu his headlong flight; but
when they had unwrapped fold after fold
and unfastened the veil, there lay the
baby-"Davfd's baby now, without
doubt or question--as rosy and fresh as
fower-bud, its big blue eyes full of
wonder and fright, but ready to smile at
the first sigh bit of David.
David was more his mothers hero than
ever. She never told the story without
adding:
"And he was jest common sized boy
when he done tp-Independent