The St. Mary banner., 1902-05-10
FRANKLIN, La, SATURDAY MAY 1o 1902
the cliffs and 60 sliding down the


ing at him." suggested Daniel.
Olaf got upon big rock and waved
his arms and shouted at the top of
his voice. The bear stopped again
moved his head to and fro, seeming
the air, after the manner of his kind
and then marched straight toward the
skee-runners.
"This chap doesn't appear to be
one of the cowards," said Olaf He
acts as il he meant business. III try
another rock on him."
Now Olaf sent flying stone which
hit the enemy's fore paws. Once more
the bear stopped to reconnoiter, but
as before soon ambled upward again
as if nothing had happened.
Il think We'll have to make run
for it," remarked Daniel.
Still the young men were not
frightened. With that slope in their
favor and their trusty skees on their
feet, they knew they could outrun any
ice bear in Spitzbergen.
Daniels shoe and stocking were
hastily pulled on and his skees strap
ped to his feet. Olaf helped him to
Use. The young sailor took step
forward, and in another second he
fell in bunch upon the rocks. His
face was as white as The glacier.
He was suffering great pain His
eyes closed, and he almost tainted
Olaf rubbed his temples and wrists
with snow, and soon the vigorous
young Norwegian revived and looked
down the glacier.
"Olaf. the bear is coming faster than
ever. Go, save yourself, Olaf Per-
haps he will follow you"
I'm afraid not, Daniel l darent
risk it. He'd come back after you
when he saw he couldn't get me-"
But there's no use of letting him
get both of US. Go. Olaf, l beg you!"
For few seconds Olaf made no
reply. He was intently watching the
calculating all the chances of this
problem of life or death for himself
and his comrade.
Il must leave you, Daniel" he said
at last, "but the bear shall not get
you. l promise you that-he shan't
get you. Stay here and don't be
afraid"
The tall, 1.-THE young athlete took =
few steps forward to the edge Of the
glacier. Bending down, he gave an
extra hitch and tuck to his skee-straps
to make sure that they should not fail
him. AS he did so, he looked close
into the eyes Of his injured comrade.
He saw no fear there.
Graspihg his oaken skee-staff in his
right hand, Olaf pushed one foot care
fully out upon the ice. followed with
the other, made few quick strokes
down the sharp slope, and was soon
coasting rapidly.
In ten seconds his speed was f1f-
teen miles an hour. Another ten Sec
onds and it was fully twice as great.
Daniel raised himself upon his ell
bows and watched, with short breath
ing and clutching fingers, the fast
fceting figure Of his friend.
why" he exclaimed. the lad is
making straight for the ice-bear."
S@thc lad was. Olaf was flying like
the wind. His cap fell off and his
dark hair streamed cut behind
Now the decfirity became still
sharper, ana faster and faster the
pace of the bold youth. His course
was still as straight as the fight of
an arrow toward the clumsy beast
that was toiling upward.
Despite the pain in his ankle Daniel
struggled to his feet. He saw Olaf
raise the but Of the skee staff to his
right shoulder ard hold it there firm
ly with both hands. It's sharp lower
end extended straight before him.
And then, while Daniel shouted at
the top Of his voice. the flying man
and the crawling beast came together.
Daniel saw rolling, confused mix
ture of dark clothes and yellowish fur;
then he saw pair Of slecs leave the
ice and leap in a semicircle through
the air.
After a few seconds of silence and
Of total absence of motion out upon
the white landscape, Daniel, to his
great joy, beheld Olaf slowly rising
to his feet twenty yards below the
heap of yellow fur.
Holding in his hand something that
the daring skce-runner
moved cautiously toward the bear.
Rising the knife. he plunged the long
blade into the heart of the wounded
and suffering animal.
Four hours later the two young men
were met by some of their shinmates
not far from the Vixen. Daniel limp
ed painfully, and Olaf bad badly
bruised right shoulder and one of his
skees was broken. But they were
dragging the carcass Of the big ice
bear, with Olafs oaken, steeltipped
skee-staff still protruding from the
mouth and throat, into which he had
driven it with such terrific force
Youths Companion.