The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-01-28

self a. mighty hunter as NOn HolStelu.
vet anxious to avoid every danger which
is the heritage of the hunter.
Arnheim was shocked and alarmed to
find. on arrival at the berloga, that,
though Ivan, the bear keeper was pres
ent, he was very drunk 50 much so that
it was impossible to get any sort of CON
verSation out OF him Ivan had seized
the opportunity of their absence during
the night to spend that interval in more
cougenial society and in more comfortable
quarters than with the bear in his den.
He had slept at the village beer house, at
l.ie,noy where he had drowned his natural
sorrow for the imminent fate Of his old
friend and companion in liberal liquid con
/ solalinns
With the ear stood Amheim aud Won
llul,toiu, each holding two extra guns
single barrels. Of course and Of type in
use just 100 years age. ior the emperor
was Paul. father of Nicholas / and the
( date about lSn0 Two other men stood
by with bear spear>-wicked looking weap-
ou> of stout ash. with double edged steel
blades OF murderous sharpness aud thick
ness. His majestys dispositions for his
majesty : safety were complete. There
we're even couple OF horses tethered to
( two trees close by. in case of accidents, the
car having explained that he desired
horses in order tha, the bear might be fol-
lowed up quickly should he escape, though
there were those who believed that his
majesty intended the animals for another
purpose
Ivan, the bearkeeper, remained close to
the lair. armed only with his stick with
which he was accustomed To dominate hts
dancing friend
Who Is that man ? asked the ear.
And why does he stand so near the ber-
loga aud grin in that foolish manner? Is
he drunk
He is the peasant who found the ber-
loga, explained Arnheim 1t will be
his duty to start the bear when your maj
eS,y Is ready 1t is dangerous duty.
aud he i, no doubt. little druuk It Is
often necessary in biz game shooting to
produce artificial courage IN those who nc
cupy dangerous positions
Good said the ear He is a
brave man Stay; |, too, will take a
gla-, IL vodka Now. he continued
having refreshed the inner ear II am
rrddy. Stand prepared. YOU two. Arm
helm aud Won Hol>tein stay: are you
certain this Is a single bear, and no, a she
bear with cubs IL must remember
my responsibilities to the state. Il j. use
les To run needless risks
Ivan i, certain. said Hol>,eiu He
actually saw the creature enter the den
.Ie-. but il NAV have given birth 70
cubs since then. said Paul looking very
pale aud anxious Here, You, Ivan,
he continued, are ypu sure this i male
bear. aul not a dam with cubs
Ivan smiled namely but ,eay pleas
lndy
why. bless you, he said II ought to
know Only last night +
Tie verified it last night interrupted
EIul,tein. with great presence Of mind
through a hole which he pierced in the
SNOW wall o. the den There are nu Cubs
Your majesty can be perfectly satisfied as
t. Ihi, question but ii you are ot the cpin-
i.u that any enterprise carrying risk i un-
desirable Tor the head Of the state-in
which opinion should cordially agree
.c, yuur majesty stand aside and watch the
hunt L.
~. 40 - long as thi, j, no devil II a
she bear with cubs | care nothing let
Ivan start the bear Stand ready Arm
helm, and you other, Start him, Ivan.
The ear planted his feet bnvely and
held his gun firmly. he rrossed himself
with hi, left hand aud muttered a prayer.
Then Ivan lifted up his voice and roared
at the bear, using the usual endearing
worls in which he was accustomed To ad-
dres, the animal when inviting him to
dance
There came meaning aud groanine
from within. for a a matter Of fact the
p,s4 old gentleman, comfortably enseonced
IN the den. was living full of food, intensely
happy. altogether disinclined for dancing
or any other foolishness involving move
ment or exertion
Woo-hoop come out Of it, YOU ad
( iectiyal son Of passive participled moth
er roared Ivaa hl,tily addressing him
[ ,elf in his foudest and most familiar terms,
and show the gentlemen how YOU can
dance ! Woo-hoop, there hoola
Ivan beat the side Of the den with his
stick At the third call, emitting 4, he
came moan Of profound, unspeakable an
( guish, out rushed poor Bruin. and obedient
10 his training and to the voice Of his mas
ter. rose upon his hind legs and commenced
to dance around Ivan in the pathetieally
ludicrous manner of his tribe To the
horror Of Arnheim aud Holstein they per
ceived that he still wore the ring in his
suout
Holy Virgin cried the excited ear,
what Is he doing? The man will be
killed This must be she bear with
cubs Stand aside Arnheim, will shoot.
. have the horses ready there !
The car fired his gun and missed,
Anheim pushed another into his hand.
By some concatenation of chances, all
tending most unfortunately for that bear,
the emperor second bullet flew straight.
Down fell Bruin. dead or dying
Then drunken Ivan fell also over the
body of his beloved companion, aud walled
aud howled aloud, crying out with many
Russian adornments of speech that his dear
friend ard the source IF his living had been
taken from him to make sport for kings.
What does the fellow mean 2 cried
the delighted car. Did he not sell us
this beroga ?
Certainly, majesty, said Arnheim.
lie is drunk and knows not what he is
saying.
Then pay him and take him away,
said the ezar, and Ivan was led blubber-
1 ing from the field
Meanwhile Aruheim piled the file upon
the nose ring aud was able to remove this
before the ear had done with Ivan But
Paul, examining the bear. presently no
{ ticed the score in Brmn nostrils, and in
quired what the mark meant Arnheim
had no reply ready just then, and looked
desperately at lIolstein The diplomat