The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-10-19

The sounds were so much like those
made by hogs that at first he felt sure
it must be some stray porker that had
come along. and he angrily shouted.
"Whee. there, Whee, you beast" as
lie climbed higher in haste. to save his
honey. But as his head rose clear OF
the brow of the crag he perceived to
his CONSERVATION that the creature waS
no hog. but large yellow bear. also
that there were two others. and that
all three were filling themselves from
his honey buckets, several of which
they had upset.
Catching sight Of AnSel's head at the
same instant the largest bear rose sud-
denly on its launches and stared at
him in surprise. its jaws slavering
honey. Then. appearing to resent the
interruption Of its feast, the animal
growled and dashed forward to the
very brink of the rock, the hair on its
foreshoulders bristling and its small
eyes rolling furiously.
AnSel had no effective weapon at
hand; even his honey trident was stick.
ing down in the chasm. There was
| nothing he could do but descend few
loops on the rope as rapidly as posi-
Bile. He was at an utter loss what to
do next, however, and stood still.
| But, meanwhile. the bear, after peer
ing over the brink. ran along the top
of the cliff for a little way, then ran
back, and in doing so passed under the
fork2d pole above mentioned, on which
| the rope was held out. There was
scarcely room for the big beast to
pa under. It's back graZed. and
scra milling on, it drew pole and rope
| along on its Notwithstanding the
latter on with it for several yards.
when it dropped back OH the cliff with
heavy jerk.
II couldn't we'll see what was going
on up there" Ansel said to me, in de-
scribing his sensations. when I felt
myself going. l thought at first the
bears had rooted up the crowbar. and
that my seconds were numberedw
The rope was strong and withstood
the jerk, but Ansel received a conSid-
erabl shock when it dropped or slid off
the bears back. He fell two or three
| feet.
"My heart nearly came into my
mouth" he told me. II didn't know
what would happen next, and l hung
on there, still as mouse, for some mo.
mentS."
Presently he heard all the bears
champing again. and after q time
climbed cautiously up a few loops,
where he could just see them over the
brink CT the rock.
From this uncomfortable situation
Ansel covertly watched large part Of
his honeycomb disappear into the
maws of the hungry and highly appre-
ciative bears. There was no doubt
that they were fond of it. They swal-
lowed it by the pound. And although
greatly disappearing, he was in no po-
Sitiol to object, or even to expostulate
audibly.
Not content with stuffing themselves
to repletion the provoking animals
overset all the buckets, and even rolled
in what was left CT the contents on the
dry. mossy rocks. They smeared their
snouts and jowls. then rubbed them
along the moss, as if from pure wan
tonness in such exuberant sweetness.
Then suddenly the largest bear, as
il its skin were tickeld by the honey
or beset by parasites. threw itself half
down beside the crowbar and began
rubbing smartly.
With every rub AnSel could feel the
bear move and sway the rope, and
again his heart "nearly turned over
lest the bear should actually rub the
bar out of the crevice! For an instant
he was minded to climb rapidly up the
rope and try to run past the animals.
but lie knew that these big cinnamon
bc.rs were not to be trified with.
Suddenly it occurred TO him to use
tie bee smoker. 1t was below, set in
q crcvicc of the crags. but he climbed
down and got it. Then charging the
bowl with bit Of hemp and sulphur.
hn ascended near the brow of the cliff.
lighted il and Cegan working the puff
fer. Fumes at once rose and were
borne back to the bears Sprawling
amidst the honey. Tor the draft of air
up from the canon was detected over
the brink Of the cliff.
Seeming trimstone, the lazy brutes
suddenly scrambled to their feet. sniff
ting. One of them even rose to his
launches, snuffiing and wrinkling up
his we'll smeared black muZZle. After
snuffing suspiciously for some moments
all three turned and shuifled stiff1y and
surlily away to little distance. Here
they paused. shifted again, then set off
at clumsy gallop. to put a greater
distance between them and these high.
ly Objectionable odors.
The bears had made mess Of his
days work, but Ansel was only too
CAD TO come out OF his adventure on
such easy terms Youths Companion.
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