The suburban citizen., 1900-08-11

the only effect was TO put her into n
rage, and make her more eager 70 get
him.
When she withdrew again Peter was
so tired that he sat down on his ped
estal to rest. Then the bear, under
the impression that he was now with
in her reach, promptly returned, and
kept him busy for another hour or
two. While this fight was going on he
heard the dogs barking and whining,
and then he caught a glimpse Of them
swimming across the river; but as
they could not climb the cliff, they
had to swim back.
Again the she bear retired; and then
Peter had a good, long rest, although
he had TO take it standing up, not dar-
ing to tempt his enemy again by sit.
ting down.
Tie next attack was the most de-
tcrmined Of all, and lasted till the
shadow of the cliff reached beyond the
river When it was over. Peter could
see nothing Of the dogs, and supposed
they had got tired and hungry and
gone home. He would have been glad
enough TO go home, too, if that un-
reasonable old she bear would let him.
As it was, he felt little discouraged
by the desertion of the dogs.
Perhaps when night came on hun
ger might drive the bear off into the
mountains to fnd something TO eat for
herself and her cubs That would
give him IN opportunity to escape.
But on the other hand, hunger might
drive her to n more rcsomte effort
to make meal of him: and in the
darkness she might succeed. One bad
feature Of the situation was that he
could not he missed at home for sew
eral days.
Not until she had dlgested me-"
thought Peter
The outlook appeared discouraging.
but Peter did not despair. He could
always jump TO the river, and there
was chance in that. 1t would, at
worst, save him from the bear. The
thought of the cool water tempted
him, but he still restrained himself
The last rays Of the sun were shin.
ing against the cedars on top of the
mountain east of the river, when Peter
heard a sharp bark. The next moment
Trap and Watch came bounding round
the corner in the ledge, and rushed
at the bear. Tantalized by the sight
of the animal beyond their reach, they
had gone down the river until they
could cross, and then had returned
to the bears den from above.
at the first bark the bear turned to
meet them. When she rose on her
launches to use her paws, she sat
only a few inches from the edge OF
the cliff. Possibly she had learned,
from having lived here long, that the
easiest way to get rid Of his enemy
was to knock him over the precipice.
The dogs had learned something,
too and kept out of her reach. Fear.
ing that she might serve them as she
had done before, Peter quickly sprang
down from his perch. lie was about
to run up behind the bear, and try
to cut her head open with the hoe.
He changed his plan suddenly. Low
ering the hoe, he grasped the handle
firmly with both hands. and moved
round till he was but little behind
the bear, and between her and the
nearest wall. Then lie rushed at her,
using the big hoe as a battering-ram.
She was wholly occupied with the
dogs at the moment.
The hoe struck her squarely, and
her hind parts were knocked over the
edge of the cliff; but she caught the
rough rock with her front claws,
growing iiercely, and doing her best
to get back upon the ledge. Peter
hammered her paws with the hoe un.
til he broke her hold, and then she
fell back and dropped down, down, as
the dogs had dropped,
He heard the great splash and
looked over !H tine TO see her come to
the surface and strike out for the east
bank. The dogs stood with their beads
over the edge Of the cliff, barking at
her loudly.
On reaching the bank the bear sat
down and watched the cliff for a min.
ute or two; then she rose and dlsap-
peared into the bushes.
While Peter was quenchng his thirs'
at the little spring the dogs began to
bark under the cliff at the cubs, but
it was getting dark. and the old bear
would doubtless return. SO Peter
sbOuldered his hoe, called off the dogs,
and after making his way cautiously
along the ledge and up the path, went
home.
Early the next morning he and his
father, armed with guns, came to the
den in the cliff, but the wise old bear
had foreseen this visit.
"Were too late. It seems" remarked
Peters father. Ma bear took her
family last night, and left for parts
unknown. You'il never set eyes on
'em any more"
"Oh we'll let her co." said Peter.
Don't care much about killing an an
imal with young ones, anyway. The
old brute treated me and the dogs a
little mean, but she got paid for it.
SO l guess Wen call 1t square seeing