The Southern herald., 1898-04-01

| - SlIIAo UP ana Tackle him on that
shelf Of rock" said /.
Nor !, echoed Fred.
We'll ! don't either" said Charley
Therefore, the only thing to do is 10
bring him down to u.s."
How can We DO it2" asked FREQ ana
|, in a breath.
Well, boys" replied Charley. Il
have a plan. Il may be foolish and
very Likely wont work; but certainly
it viii DO co harm to try it. Fred's
toboggau, here, is a good. wide. stror a,
one. Now, / propose that one Of rs
climb mp there with Il, shove il un. tail
end foremost, on to the shelf Of rock
aud leave ii there, with the front end
hanging over the snoubauk. Then
Fred can bleat again aud bring ,he bear
out If he should step on The tobos-
gan and 60 10 nosing It, and should Oct
a little further forward thar the
ba.arcing-poipt-Whish, don't you see,
the thing would tip up and piuugs for
warS and bring Mr., Bear coastine
down that suoUbank faster than he
ever went before 10 his life?"
"Hurrah." cried Fred ana l. in
chorus, at might work-of course IT
might. And il it aid, we could shoot
the old fellow at dhe foot Of the hill,
before he got the snow out Of his eyes" "
but who'll 60 up with u. ,obag-
gan?' asked Fred. "I want 10 save my
wind for bleatirg."
"And l want to have my nerves
steady enough to aim this big .en-borc
gun Of fathers" said l.
"Humph! I'll 60 up with the tobog.
GAM 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 tdan
you can help"
Fred and heaved a sigh Of relief as
Charley took hold Of the toboggan
rope, and began slowly to "sidle" his
way up the steep snowbapk. 1t was a
long and difficult climb, and cur adven-
turous companion had to stop and rest
good many times before he came up
abreast Of the shelf Of rock in frcnt Of
the cave.
1t was a critical and exciting moment,
as he lifted the tobcggan and began to
slide it gently up On the ledge Our
hearts heat fast, and we were full Of
silent admiration Of our chum's bray.
cry.
The feat was accomplished, however.
without interruption on Bruins part,
and Charley came p'urging down TO us
again, with look Of pardonable tri,
umph on bis flushed face, "Now.
Fred, you bleat!" be said, as he reached
the foot CT the incline, and turned 10
look up at the cave. "My! it was
ticklish! But the toboggan sets just
right for the old fellow to step on +;
and get a ride--doesn't it?'
We heartily agreed that it did Tue
forward part Of the toboggan oyerhun2
the shelf nearly three feet. and II wGs
SO delicately balanced that the slight
est weight beyond its center Of gravity
would send it shooting down the in
cline.
Fred began to beat NEST persuasive.
ly. This time, however, Eruin cid rot
respond Immediately, ard we began to
fear he was toe wise to be fooled a see.
oad time. At last. however he cane
waddling out. The tobppgan attracted
his attention al once, and he proceeded
70 investigate It, lie smclled lightly
and suspicious'y along its edge until he
could 60 no further. Then he delbcr-
ately stepped upon it, intending to
cross to the other side, ard continue
his investigations there.
But the moment the bear stepped or
the forward part Of the toboggan,
down went that end and mp came the
other end, and before Bruin could take
realizing sense Of what had happened,
he was lying upon his SIDE on that long
wooden thing and whizzirg down the
bank like ar arrow from bow!
How funny he looked, sprawlcd out
there, with his two hind legs dragging
in the snow. and his astonished black
face just peerirg over the curled dasher!
I have laughed many time at the rec
o'lectior Of that picture; but none Of
us laughed just then, 1t was too seri-
Gus a matter when a big, angry beai
was sailing down upon MS, and we had
only two charges apiece in our old-f1sh-
ioned, muzzle-loading guns.
The toboggan Slowed, shot past US
within a few feet, whizzed across the
bed OF the brook and dashed into the
opposite bank with a thud. Bruin
keeled off, head over heels, and landed
all in a heap in the powdery snow. As
he lay there for moment, sprawling
and snorting, Charley cried in clear,
firm voice: Fire"
Three tremendous reports rang out on
the winter air; for each Of the old muz-
zle-loaders had "four-fnger charge"
in It. A perfect hailstorm Of buck
shot at short range tore its way TO the
exposed vitals Of the foundeTing bear,
and. without ever rcgaining its feet, the
bewildered and mortally wounded crea.
ture turned convulsiyely upon its side
and was dead
Then what shouts Of mingled triumph
and laughter arose from the successful
hunters! We keeled over in the SNOW
and kicked our heels above our heads;
we pounded each other on the back;
we Jumped into the air, waving our
arms like madmeu. We laughed and
shouted until the tears ran down our
faces, and our sides and lungs ached so
that articulate utterance became tor
true. Then we sat down, painting, on
the dead bear, and kept silence until we
got our wind again.
Two hours later, when we marched
M TO the village store, dragging our
bear on the toboggan, the whole village
Turned ont TO give US an ovation. And