Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-07-27
OF and the children had no trouble in

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and usually finding path over the ice
that was free from ice and slippery as
glass. In some places, however, this
path was so narrow that they could not
| walk abreast.
When they had nearly arrived at the
traps Jan noticed several large tracks
in the soft snow. He paused n moment
to examine them.
Keen as young Eskimo, he knew
at once that they were made by bear,
and also that they must have been left
there since the snow stopped falling.
Perhaps the dreaded animal had visited
his traps. He might even be there
then, and would it not be dangerous to
keep on?
The brave boy looked around with a
sharp, eager eye, but he saw nothing OF
any animal In sight.
He stood and listened, thinking the
bear might already be close at hand.
! Nothing was to be heard. Possibly
Bruin had wandered far away by this
time, and at the thought Jan concluded
to go on.
1t was only few steps now TO the
traps, or, as they might be called, ice
houses, where he hoped at least to find
fox or marten entrapped.
They had all been securely set, and
with bait that was peculiarly attractive
to the fur-bearing animals of that re-
gion. The first one he arrived at he
found undisturbed. But the second!
All, that one was sprungl He knew it
even before he saw the fallen ice-bar.
There must be something in it, then:
He ran forward in his great excite
ment, leaving Use to trudge along more
slowly. The trap was occupied.
He lifted up the block of ice that
formed the entrance, and there lay
great gray fox, looking gaunt and
fierce, but harmless enough now, for it
was cold as stone.
While engaged in skinning the dead
animal, he heard an exclamation from
his sister.
Jan looked up. There stood u huge,
white, shaggy creature, much bigger
than the largest dog he had ever seen.
run this way, Ilse," he cried, in
great alarm; "it's bearl"
The girl halted in her tracks, looking
piteously at Jan. She recognized by
JAMS voice, and by the word 'bear, )"
that terrible danger threatened them,
and for the moment she was paralyzed
with fear.
Not so Jan. He ran to his sister,
grasped her arm, and pulled rather
than led her, as he rushed back to the
trap.
The bear at this gave loud sniff, and
advanced toward them, growing saw.
agely.
Jan had heard many stories of the
strength and ferocity of this polar ami
NAL, and of course knew the full danger
they were exposed to.
AS the great beast trotted toward
them, he caught up his Ratchet and the
fox that he had been skinning, and, tell
ng Use to run, started after her, drag
sing the fox by the tail.
The bear halted moment, and then
rushed on in pursuit.
Catching up with Use, Jan seized her
arm, and pulled her forward still
faster.
"Run faster, Use! run fasterl" he
cried.
81 can't, JAM" painted Use.
And it almost seemed as if she could
not go another step.
JAMS courage nearly failed him; but,
with last despairipg effort, he pulled
Use forward a few steps. A drift OF
snow lay in his path. He set his feet
upon it. The yielding white mass gave
way beneath him. Jan uttered sharp.
involuntary cry, as he and his sister
went down through the snow that
dashed in their faces.
They did not fall far. 1t was mar
row cleft or fssure in the ice into which
they had fallen. AS it had been quite
concealed by the drifted snow, the chill
dren were not aware of its existence un-
til they fell into It,. Almost exhausted,
they lay quite still a moment at the bot
tom.
Presently there was paving and u
snufing above them, and Jan saw q pair
of fierce eyes looking down upon them.
Could the bear reach them? 1t was
only few feet TO the top. They hud-
died close together and waited.
No, the savage brute could not quite
reach them, though he tried several
times to do so, stretching down his long,
hairy fore-leg. Once, indeed, the sharp
claws caught Uses jacket, and the poor
girl, trembling, cried out: "Oh, the bear
has got me, Janl"
1t was then Jan thought of his,
Ratchet. Holding on to Use with his
left hand, he grasped the weapon with
his right. Two sharp, powerful blows
he struck, and bruin drew up his
wounded paw with ferocious growl.
Use fell back into JAMS arms and be-
gan to cry. She had been very much
frightened.
Jan soothed her the best he could, and
waited with the Ratchet in his hand for
any further attacks of their enemy.
But he bear did not choose to modest
them any more. After time he moved
away, slowly and painfully dragging
his manned foot over the ice. No soon
er, however, did Jan show his head than
the animal returned to the cleft again.
The boy did not dare to leave their
refuge, and so concluded to stay where
they were until help came.
The two children remained there all
that day and night. They did not suffer
from the cold, for they were warmly
clad, and their narrow quarters were
sheltered from the wind. They slept
soundly and securely all night.
In the morning they were aroused by
the report of gun not far from them.
Presently voices were heard, and Jan
looked out from their retreat to see half
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