The suburban citizen., 1900-08-11
OVER THE CLIFF.
BY LEWIS B. MILLER.

meaning to hit the bear once, at least,
before jumping after the dogs.
But he quickly changed his plan.
The jump would be. dangerous, and
| il could be taken as a last resort any
time. Putting one hand on the rock,
which was about five feet high, ana
| the other on the end Of his hOe-handle,
he leaped upon the rock. Now he was
in a fair position for defence, being
above and nearly out of reach of the
bear. on a rock so smooth that she
could not easily climb it.
On she came, growing, and stood on
her hind feet with her paws against
/ the barrier. Peter aimed a blow at
her head, but she lodged back so
quickly that it missed her and Peter
was within an ace of falling into her
clutch. Afterward he was more eau
! tious, but whenever she came within
reach he struck at her He could not
hurt her, but he forced her to keep off.
although she persisted for an hour in
her attempts 10 reach him. Then,
Withdrawing a few feet, she sat down.
still watching him closely with her
little eyes.
Peter, glad of the respite, lay down
and famed himself with his hat. for
the sun, high above the mountains.
was shining hot against the cliff.
While busy keeping the bear off he
had heard the dogs clamoring, but had
not had time to glance toward them.
Now he saw them on the opposite
| bank, running up and down along the
edge of the water, and still barking.
They could see the bear and were
frantic TO get to her, but they could
| see no way Of ascending the apparent
ly endless wall of cliff on the west
side.
After watching Peter awhile, the
bear renewed her attempt to reach
him. Again and again she tried to
climb the rock, but his desperate hoe
kept her back Once when he aimed
blow and missed her. she strucl; the
hoe with her paw, and nearly ierked
him off the rock. When she sQuatted
again, she had her mouth open, pant
she would crawl back into her den
for shade. But she went TO the other
end of the wide part of the ledge,
and lay down in a little stream Of
spring water that trlcliled across the
rocky floor. She Tapped the water
and rolled in it, but did not forget to
keep an eye on Peter
He stood sweltering against the cliff,
wondering how he could escape. and
very thirsty. The sight Of the spring
and OF the river flowing below tantal-
lied him almost beyond endurance.
While the old bear was lying in the
water, cub came out from behind the
rock Peter was standing on,and sham
bled to her. Raising herself. she gave
| the cub a slap that sent it rolling
across the floor Her act reminded
Peter Of an impatient woman slapplng
her child for bothering her when she
has important matters on hand.
As the cub rolled over it caught
sight OF Peter on his pedestal. and
the haste with which the llttel fel.
low scrambled into hole was so com.
ical that the young man could not
help laughing. Another cub soon
moved out, but seeing Peter, quickly
retreated.
The sun grew hotter and hotter. un-
I'll the young man felt that he was
In danger Of being broiled against the
cliff He looked up, but there was no
possibility Of scaling that Overhang-
ing wall Then ne looked down long
ingly at the river. "The jumping
would be easy, but how about the
stoppingf" said Peter to himself,
whimsically.
He could not entertain the thought.
Although a plunge into the cool. clear
water would have been delightful the
distance was too great to be yentured
while any other hope should remain
You old beast, your he exclaimed
angifly, shaking his fist at his enemy,
while with the other sleeve he mopped
his red, dripping face. The bear was
lying comfortably in the water. IF
| could get one good, square whacli at
you with this hoe, I'd fix your
At his voice the bear rose and looked
at him in a peculiar way, as If she
meant to make reply: IAN right;
come down and hit me. l won't run
away But Peter declined the chal-
lengc.
At noon the shadow Of the upper
cliff had covered the ledge, and Pc
rer's position was much improved. A
cool breeze blew up-river, and but for
his increasing thirst he would now
have been comparatively comfortable.
The bear, however. soon came on
with more yigor than ever. For a
while Peter had all be could do to
repel her advances lie succeeded