The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-14
For another week they were no,

one night thay were walked by the
mournful lowing of the cow and the
calves. and looking out, they saw the
huge pale spccter Of beast standing
at the door of the shed. Tie grizzly
had come for more beef.
But the log walls and door appeared
to puzzle the animal. 1t ran to and for.
swinging its head. snortinS and snun-
ing. alrl presently came to the shack
door. One blow of the bears huge paw
would have crushed it.
The boys covered III their bed. shiv-
ering with fear. but the sQuaw kindled
fire, and as soon as brands were
blazing. she threw one out at the lit
tie window OH that side. The bear
snorted and retired to Il dstaucc. where
it stood for time. as if in aStoniSh-
ment. then came round near the COW
shed again. Immediately the COW re-
sumed her plaintive lowing.
The bear stood up and paved the
walls of the shed. and would probably
have torn the structure down. but the
Suuaw. opening the shack door. threw
brands ut him. The huge beast went
away. but returned toward morning.
ard but for the squawS tirebrands
would have secured the cow. At sun
rise it shuiflad away up the meadows.
Not once during that long night had
the boys closed their eyes: hut they
now fell asleep. and were only awak'
ened several hours later Ivy the sound
of blows. The COW ard one OF the
calves were in tie shack. The squaw
was welding the aX III tie shed; and
OH going out there Donald AID Jimmy
scarcely recognized her.
From a grunting. apathcti" old crca-
turc. she appeared transformed into
gleaminS-eycd fury. They were
afraid of her. she looked SO wild and
dashed to and for with such agility.
She had chopped at the raftcrs OF the
shed roof at both ends. where they
rested on the log walls OF the shed,
but supported them by two props uE-
derneath, as she worked she sang
some sort of savage chant over and
over. ending it every time with an cl-
dritch whOop.
The lads were wholly at loss TO
know what had come over her, "r what
she was doing i'll such i mood. She
appeared entirely forsctful OF their
food. nor could little Jimmy indCcs
her TO turn her attention 10 cookery.
During the afternoon she set both
Youngsters fetching stones from the
foot Of the crags few yards away.
and these she piled OIL the roof OF ;hc
shed. In !; word, the sCuaw WAS seq
ting 4 bear trap-prObably after the
manner of her tribe. The task had
reused her from her overfcd apathy.
She drove the lads to and fro with a:il:-
fuls of stones, and fetched large o.i2s
herself, till Il weight OF several tons
had been piled Oh the splits of the shed
roof.
The sQuaw had left the lame calf i'll
the she'd tied 1t tie far end OF it, and
would not allow Donald to lead II out;
but the other calf was with the COW
in the shed. At sunset she set the door
of the shed ajar and the boys. nov
began better TO comprehend her STRAIT
agem.
For if the bear entered at the door
Of the shed to seize the calf at the far
end, he would have TO pass between
the two props. the bases Of which she
had set on round sections OF 4 pine lo=.
The props stood so near together that
the grizzly's body would diSplace them,
causing the logs to roll outward.
AS night drew on they retired 20 Tic
shack. and remained quiet there, with
out light or fire.
Toward midnight the COW began 20
low. The bear WAS coming. After Il
time they heard it snutting near the
door, and again a great fear fell on
little Jimmy. But he dared not cry.
Not long after this they heard say
age roar, accompanied by i clatter. y
moment later there was tremendous
crash. followed by hoarsc, awful out
cries and roars of distress.
Old MiZZkook ran out and danced
about the shed. singing and whoopinS
in savage Slee. Her trap had sprung.
But Donald and Jimmy were thinking
Of their poor lame calf.
They dared not go near the shed.
however, even after it had grown light
the next morning. The grizzly contin-
ued its outcries at intervals all that
day and through the next night, moan
ing. groaning or roaring in anguish. 1t
must have died horrible death under
that weight Of stones. But the out
cries We're music in old MiZzkook's s
ears. She danced and sang in un-
bounded delight, nor when the bear
finally expired was she ave:se 10 feast
ing off its flesh.
Her stratagem had at least saved
one cow for them: and in praise of her
fidelity. such as it EaS, must be said
that she remained there until McDou-
gals return in October, when he re-
moved his boys to Juneau, Alaska.
They left old MizZkook in possession
Of the shack, and also OF the COW and
calf.-Youth's Companion.
The Literary Ignorance OF Girls.