Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-05-22


their right and close at hand, Joe sud-
denly came into view, standing stock
still where his coat blended with the
colors of patch of hill grass.
The boys watched him with curiosity.
and presently he began to shuttle to
and fro with the easy but restless
swing of tiger pacing its cage.
Something was in the wind, for at
each turn the bear swung his uplifted
nose to point in the same direction.
Presently he increased his shuttle to q
trot, his small, round ears jerked Curl
ously, and ridge of bristles stood at
right angles to his backbone. He pres
ented the appearance of creature
fascinated, half-angry and half-lear-
full.
Suddenly and with startling distinct
ness came sounds of some creature
approaching through the young cedars.
Joe's agitation increased, and he raised
his voice in a formidable growl of
warning.
There was an instant of silence on
the part of the newcomer, of breathless
suspense with the boys, then an an
swering roar of challenge, and huge
grizzly burst into the opening and
launched itself furiously at Joe.
The tame bear neither ran nor rear
ed, but fell upon his back to meet
the assault! AS the big one rushed at
him. Joe dealt tremendous bind-foot
stroke, which fairly knocked him over.
Then for some minutes, while two
wildly excited boys looked on, Joe con-
tinued on the defensive. but handling
his adversary with the dexterous TAG
tics he had used upon his swinging bar
rel. Seldom can it have fallen to the
lot OF grizzly to be so cuned and bang
ed.
Joe fought the whole time upon his
back, his mouth gaping in what seemed
like huge grin.
When the grizzly attempted to use
his fore paw in the downward stroke
of his species, Joe made a lightning
shift and returned a hind-foot blow
upon his flank. These flank blows re-
sounded like the muffled hammerings
of a maui.
Hubbard and Clayton forgot the pos
sible danger connected with this ex-
citing battle, and whooped with citation
at Joe's successful tactics.
The big stranger was too angry to
hoor onu hnf hic Oxur vi =, or,
Determined to drive the intruder off
his range at all hazards, he forced the
fighting until it became fast and furi-
Gus enough to have met the demands
of a Roman arena. Tremendous buffets
were exchanged, and the canon re-
sounded with the roar of the conflict.
For time the boys were certain
that Cinnamon Joe would beat the
grizzly off, but in his shifting tactics
still fighting upon his back-Joe APP
preached or was showed near to the
foot of the ledge, and suddenly slipped
into the hollow of tiny runlet worn
in the seasons of rain.
Instantly the big grizzly was upon
him, and the ranch bear was enclosed
in the grip of his mighty arms. The
wild one was on top, and having Joe
at such advantage, would doubtless
have made short work of him. But i'm
mediately Hubbard and Clayton took a
hand in the fight.
A heap of broken rocks lay all about
them. These they seized and heaved
with practised hands. Yet SO enraged
was the wild bear that he took several
tremendous thumps from their heavy
missiles before he wheeled to face the
unseen foe.
Then Joe slipped out of limbo, and
having had enough of fighting, he ran
by chance directly into draw which
cut into the ledge.
The grizzly gave chase, and whoop-
ing in the hope to scare him off, the
boys ran scrambling along the ridge
For some seconds they lost sight OF
both bears, but presently they saw
Joe's heaving shoulders among the
boulders on their right, and in a mo.
ment they were up with him.
But the wild bear was not yet fright
ened by their whoops, and his roar Of
rage now sounded close upon theil
heels. For an instant Joe fingered as
if to renew the fight: but as the big
grizzly came in sight he fled, and the
boys, now thoroughly frightened, raI
with him.
There was a quick, fierce scramble
over a rocky ridge, and all four, pur-
suer and pursued, slid down surface
slippery with pine-needles, into the
bottom of draw. The descent was
breakneck, and both boys sprawled al
| the end of the slide, and torn clothes
and many bruises. Joe came to the
bottom at about the same time.
Hubbard and Clayton sprang to theil
feet, to see the grizzly sliding back
ward, with a growing muzzle turned
and almost upon them. ice threw him
self under projecting boulder in al
attitude of defense, and the boys flour
ished their arms and shouted.
Hitherto the attention of the wifC
bear had been wholly concentrated up
on Joe. If he had seen the boys it mus
have been as fitting and unformidablt
shadows AS he struck the bottom o.
the gulch he turned startled face up
on the apparation of two yelling BIZ
peds. His hair skunk upon his skin
and he wheeled and beat a hasty re
treat down the ravine.
Needless to say, Hubbard and Clay
ton were immensely relieved at this
turn of affairs. And now Joe did no
refuse to be led grumbling homeward
AS he shuffied at the boys heels, how
ever, he turned now and then to cas-
half-angry, half fearful looks behin(
and occasionally he growled in say
age and startling fashion.
Joe spent some days close within hi
quarters, sourly nursing his hurts. Sat
to say, this savage fight and all TIT
mauling he got had its permanent eff
feet upon his disposition. He was new
er again the safe and harmless play