The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-07-08

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 SHINING. and, tell
ing Use to run. started after her, drag
ging the fox by the tail.
The bear halted a moment. and then
rushed on in pursuit.
Catching up with Use. Jan seized her
arm. and pulled her forward still
faster.
Run faster. Ilse, run faster" he
cried.
Il cant. Jan" painted Use.
And il almost seemed as if she could
not go another step.
JAMS courage nearly failed him; but,
with a last dcspairing effort. he pulled
Use forward a few steps. y drift of
snow lay in his path. lie set MS Feet
upon it. The Welding white mass gave
way beneath him. Jan uttered Il sharp,
Involuntary cry. as he and his sister
went down through the snow that
dashed in their faces.
They did not fall far. II was a mar
row cleft or assure in the ice into which
they had fallen. rs it had been quite
concealed hy the driftcd snow. the chill
dren were not aware of its existence I'M
til they fell into H.. Almost exhausted,
they lay quite still a moments al the bot
| tom.
Presently there was a paving and a
shutting above them. and Jan saw Il pair
of fierce eyes Ioorin" down upon them.
Could the bear reach them? II WAS
only Il 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 o stretching down his long,
| hairy forc-lc@. Once. indeed. the sharp
claws caught IISe's jacket. and the poor
Girl. trembling, cried out: oh, the bear
has got me. jan"
1t WAS then Jan thought Of his
Ratchet. Holding on to Ilse with his
left hand. he @raspcd the weapun with
his right. Two sharp. powerful blows
he struck. and bruin drew up his
wounded paw with a fcrociuus gruwI.
llSc fell back into Jams arms and be-
gan to cry. She had beer very much
frightened.
Jan soothcd hcrthe best he could. and
waited with the Ratchet in his hand for
any further attacks of their enemy.
But the hcar did NOT choose to modest
them any more. After "A time he moved
AWAY. slowly and painfully dragging
his manned foot over the ice. No soon
cr. however. did Jan show his head than
the animal returned to the cleft again.
The hoy did not dare 10 leave their
refuge. and 50 concluded to stay where
they were unit! ~helprame.
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 Il gun not far from them.
Presently voices were heard. and Jan
locked out from their retreat To see ali
u dozen OF their nearest n~ci"hhore mt
the settlement, who had come I q search
Tor them. They had shot the bear,
which they had found only Il short dis
lance from where the children lay.
ian had no more trouble thar spring
with his traps. and bruins skin counter
balanced the loss he had experienced
from the bears Expectations. He sold
it for II riN dollars to III" merchant AT
the settlement. and to-day it probably
ndrrnS The slcdgc of >unic stylish Young
GrcrnIander at U~PcrLavik. Golden