The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-03

bring him down to u.s."
How can we Go it" asked Fred and
1, in breath.
well. boys" replied Charley, 81
have plan. It may be foolish and
very likely won't work; but certainly
it will do no harm TO try it. Fred's
toboggan, here, is a good. wide, strou g
one. Now, I propose that one of US
climb mp there with it, shove it up. tail
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
a little further forward than the
Observation-Disclosures, don't you 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 ard I, in
chorus. at 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-
GAM asked Fred. Il want to save my
wind for blea ting"
"And 1 want to have my nerves
steady enough to aim this big ten-bore
gun of fathers" said 1.
"Humph! I'll go up with the tobog-
gan!" cried Charley. THE bear isn't
likely to come out until Fred beats.
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 l heaved a sigh Of relief as
Charley took hold of the toboggan
rope, and began. slowly to "sidle" his
way up the steep snowbank 1t was a
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
the foot of the incline. and turned to
look up at the cave. my! it was
ticklish But the toboggan 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
so delicately balanced that the slight
est weight beyond it's center of gravity
would send it 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
70 investigate It. He smelleG lightly
and suspiciously along it's edge until he
could go no further. Then he delibcr-
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
a realizing sense of what had happened,
he was lying upon his side on that long
wooden thing, and whizzing down the
bank like ar arrow from a bow!
How funny he looked, sprawled out
there, with his two hind legs dragging
in the snow, and his astonished black
face just peering over thecurled dasher!
I have laughed many time at the rec
objection of that picture; but none Of
us laughed just then. 1t was too seri-
Gus matter when a big, angry bear
was sailing down upon us, and we had
only two charges apiece in, our old-f1sh-
Toned, 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 heap in the powdery snow. AS
he lay there for n moment, sprawling
and snorting, Charley cried in a clear,
firm voice: "Fire!"
Three treme ndous reports rang out on
the winter air; fer each of the old muz-
zle-loaders had a 'four-finger charge"
in it. A perfect hailstorm of buck
shot at short range tore its way to the
exposed vitals of the floundering bear,
and, without ever regaining its feet, the
bewildered and mortally wounded crea.
ture turned convulsively 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 madmen. 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
| J