Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-09-29

YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.


and he mad walked warily around them
and then gone off. Food of which the
hear was known to be fond had been
poisoned and laid around his accustomed
haunts; hut bruin was far too cunning to
touch 1t. In fact he seemed too old a
bear to be caught with any kind of chaff.
however tempting.
In the end the peasants made up their
minds that it was useless to hunt him any
more, deciding that it was not n hear M
all but one of those wicked magcian,
who, as they believed, had the power Of
changing themselves into wolves. bears
and other wild beasts, and taking ven
geance in that form upon those who had
offended them.
So the colonel had some reason to speak
50 angrily. especially as he had himself
ridden many a mile through the forest IN
the hope of meeting the bear, but all to
no purpose.
Suddenly deep voice said, close 10 his
elbow:
Col Bibikoff, win you let me try?"
Try WHAT" asked the colonel. looking
round, with Il start. at a short thick-set.
shaggy-haired figure that might easily
have been mistaken for the very bear of
which he was thinking.
But it was only his servant Yury, a
convict from southern Russia; for il was
che of Col. Bibikoff's queer ways 70
choose all his household servants from
ConvictS under his charge. aud to declare,
that he had never been better served in
his life
TO kill the bear for you" replied
Yury.
do you think you can do it?" asked
tn colonel, locking keenly at him.
II can try" said the Russian, simply:
Il III not afraid Of him. If he's only
bear, I've killed plenty Of them already;
and If he's an evil spirit, as they all say.
he can have no power over any man who
trusts in God. Anyhow. I'll tackle him.
on condition that if | get the hest Of it,
you II obtain my pardon from the Car
~ our pardonE' echoed the colonel.
staring.
Just so, my MASTER" rejoued the con
Wet. II want to see Russia again before
| die: and, beside, thy say our father the
Gar Is of Il bear-hunter himself: 50
- be all the more likely to grant il"
Col: Bibikoff pondered. The idea was
, certainly very queer one, hut if il
should happen to benefit this man. who
had served him So faithfully, and tc
whom he was greatly attached SO much
the better.
In any case it could scarcely do any
. harm for lury was as old Il bear hunter
! as himself.
NO So" said he, nj length: its bar
gain"
Thank You, master; and now I'll be
off at once. for if he knows I'm coming,
he won't show
Half an hour later any one who had
been abroad in the forest to the north Of
AleXandrovSk would have seen very
curious sight
4 man was walking slowly through the
thickcSt part of the wood, yelping and
barking as he went, exactly like Il small
dog; and, stranger still. his face. hands
and clothes giistCned all over as if they
had been Smcared with honey, which WAS
Ig ht
Put Yury flor he it was) knew we'll
what he was about. He had not hunted
bears 50 long without finding out their
foncneSS for dogs and honey; and he
honcd to bring the beast within reach.
either by the ear or 10y the nose.
Nor was he disappointed. All at once
half-snortins, half-grunting sound is
sued from the thicket, mingled with 4
craclle Of twigs and the ruStling Of dry
/ leaves, Then the bushes in front of him
shook and parted. and out Shamhlcd II
hr~' tla k boar
To any other man. alone in the DEPTHS
of the forest. far from all help. those
lnnr. white fanCS and thick. strong limbs
and mighty claws would have been
terrible sight: but not So fer the stout
hearted Russian.
He leveled the short hunting spear
which vas his only weapon except the
Iroaa-lladed knife in his girdle. and.
! planting his feet firmly. awaited the oa-
set Of the hear. viii h. after watch NJ
! him douhtfully fer n moment with its
/ Srrall, su'lHn eyes. came charging at him
I 0pCn-r'cuthcd.
! \ shook 81 rusn. a savage growl and
I Yrrv found himself sprawliug ON hi, ba X
I among the bushes. with the bears grim
/ jaws g~ping over him.
But the r-urstcr was tempered for
moment by the shaft of the spear which
had been driven home into its shaggy
/ hre' st, AND that moment saved Nury.
/ He sprang to his feet again lust as che
/ crunch of the terrible teeth snapped the
/ strong spear like sealing wax; but he