The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-04-21

70 cllInO up anu tackle MIN on tnat
shelf of rock" said l.
"Nor l." echoed Fred.
"Well, l don't either" said Charley.
Therefore. the only thing to do il to
bring him down to U.S."
"How can we do it?" asked Fred and
/, in brea th.
swell. boys" replied Charley, II
have plan. 1t may be foolish and
very likely won't work; but certainly
1t will do no harm to try it. Fred's
toboggan, here, is a good, wide, strong
one. Now, propose that one of US
climb up there with it, shove it up. tall
end foremost, on to the shelf of rock
and leave it there. with the front end
hanging over the snowbank. Then
Fred can bleat again and bring the bear
out. If he should step on the tobog-
gan and go to nosing it, and should get
little further forward than the
-point--Whish, don't yon see,
the thing would tip up and plunge for
ward and bring Mr.. Bear coasting
down that snowbank faster than he
ever went before in his life?"
"Hurrah!'" cried Fred and 1, in
chorus. ut might work-of course it
might! And If it did, we could shoot
the old fellow at The foot of the hill,
before he got the snow out of his eyes"
"But who'll go up with the .obog-
wind for bleating."
Sand I want to have my nerves
steady enough to aim this big ten-bore
gun of fathers" said I.
"Humph! I'll go up with the tobog-
gan!" cried Charley. ''The bear isn't
likely to come out until Fred bleats,
anyway, and then I'll be down the hill
again. You fellows keep the dog back.
and don't make any more noise than
you can help"
Fred and heaved sigh of relief as
Charley took hold of the toboggan
rope, and began slowly to "sidle" his
way up the steep snowbank. 1t was q
long and difficult climb, and our adven-
turous companion had to stop and rest
a good many times before he came up
abreast Of the shelf Of rock in front OF
the cave.
1t was critical and exciting moment,
as he lifted the toboggan and began to
slide It gently up on the ledge. Our
hearts beat fast, and we were full of
silent admiration Of our chum's brav-
cry.
The feat was accomplished, however,
without interruption on Bruins part,
and Charley came plunging down to us
again, with look Of pardonable tri-
umph on his flushed face. "Now,
Fred, you bleat!" he said. as he reached
look up at the cave. "Myl it was
ticklish! But the toboegan sets just
right for the old fellow to step on It
and get ride-doesn't it?"
We heartily agreed that It did The
forward part Of the toboggan overhung
the shelf nearly three feet, and It was
20 delicately balanced that the slight
eet weight beyond it's center Of gravity
would send II shooting down the in
cline.
Fred began to bleat most persuasive
ly. This time, however, Bruin did not
respond Immediately, and we began to
fear he was too wise to be fooled sec-
ond time. At last, however, he came
waddling out. The toboggan attracted
his attention at once, and he proceeded
to investigate ii. He smelled lightly
and suspiciously along it's edge until he
could 60 no further. Then he deliber-
ately stepped upon it, intending to
cross to the other side. and continue
his Investigations there.
But the moment the bear stepped or
the forward part Of the toboggan,
down went that end and up came the
other end, and before Bruin could take
4 realizing sense Of what had happened,
he was lying upon his side on that long
wooden thing, and whizzing down the
bank like an arrow from q bowl
How funny he looked, sprewled out
there. with his two hind legs dragging
in the snow, and his astonished black
face just peering over h<curled dssher!
have laughed many time at the rec
election Of that picture; but none cd
us laughed just then. It was too seri-
ous . matter when . big. angry besI
was sailing down upon us, and we had
only two charges apiece in our old-fash-
ioned, muzzle-oading guns.
Inc toDog8an Aeweo, snot p4st NJ
within q few feet, whixxed across the
bed Of the brook and dashed into the
opposite bank with thud. Bruin
keeled Of, head over heels, and landed
all In . heap in the powdery snow. Az
he lay there for a moment. sprawling
and snorting, Charley cried. in clear,
arm voice: "Firei"
Three tremendous reportsrang out on
the winter air; for each OF the old muz-
zle-loader had "four-fnger charge"
In 1t. A perfect hailstorm OF buck
shot at short range tore its way to the
exposed vitals Of the foundering bear.
and, without ever regaining lite feet, the
bewildered and moHally wounded crea-
ture turned convulsively Apon its side
and was dead.