Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-05-31
AFLOAT WITH A BEAR

ga Oae afternoon last spring, when heard
thet tho ice was breaking up in the Shan:
ns1yooz, ! thought would so down and
aatch some fish for mother.
was hunting up my fishing tackle when
little Paul discovered what was about. ane
came running out after me.
"Oh, Nevi." b begged. "take ne with yoa.
please!''
No one In OUT house can refuse Paul any.
thing, %, q course, after awhile. I consent.
ed. Mother wrapped him up warm and
gave him something to eat in . small. tin pail
In case hs should be hungry, and presently
We were jogging along narrow patch
through the great pine forest that lay be.
tween our place and the lake.
Pau, sturdy little fellow, enjoyed th<
tramp extremely, and sang and shouted
and drummed on the tin pail until the silent
wood rang again.
We had gone but little way when Luke
Nurry, an old hunter and trapper, met ~.
He came striding along, gun over bis shoul-
der, q fox skin at his belt, and Bruce, his big,
brown setter, trotting at his heels.
'Going a-6shinS9" said he. looking at, 10
and smiling.
II said Yes an< chen we stood talking
for q moment and watching Paul, who was
tugging at the cover of his tin pail.
hungry alreadyw asked him.
NO." said he, but Bruce Il, and want
70 give him some Of my bread and honey"
, He wrcnched of the cover at last and b.
gan feeding the dog.
Presently Luke hurry called out: '"That
will do, Paul. You will have none for your
elf. Bruce IL % fond Of bread and honey
q bear. Talking about bearA" he said,
turning to mo, zone Of those tascals must
have been reused from his long winter nap.
I saw some fresh tracks out yonder. Keep
. good lookout. They are dangerous this
time of year."
thought very little Of the hunters words
until be. was out Of sight. Then / begaD
to wish that had left Paul at home
When we reached the margin of the Shan.
nonyook Paul discovered an old, water.
logged scow lying half in and half out Of the
river. The sun shone brightly down upon
tho spot, and he was 90 delighted with the
boat that left him to play while went In
search of a good place for fishing, intending
TO keep him in sight all the time. ''
For some distance there was fringe Of
Ice along the shore, but after walking on Z
little way / came to alarge rock, upon which
I clambcred and cast my line far out into the
stream. Il
''This will do" 1 thought. Then I sud-
denly remembered Paul and turned 70
look for him, bat found that curve in the
bank bid the old scow from sight. I thousht,
however, that he would be- perfectly safe
while threw In my line few times. ).
But soon forgot al about him, for
scarcely had my hook touched the wateE
when it was seized by large fish. Then J
went on batting my hook and pulling out the
full; 10 astonished and delighted with nv,
success that I never noticed how the time
was slipping away.
Suddenly was startled from my pleasant
occupation by cry for help which chilled
nv blood, as the cold had not donet for u
was in Paul's voice.. sprang to my feet
and saw the old scow swirling round; the
curve with my little. brother. crouching In
,the,stern, and in the bow something that
esemed like an enormous piece Of oskum, but
% ], looked I saw it move; then knew it WAS
Q bear, one Of. the largest ! had; ever seen.
! did not call TO Paul to jump out into the
water for fear be might b crushed to death
In the ice. Neither did dare to swim out
20 him for fear miRht be drawn under. and