The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-14

right down Into the house of Mrs. Bruno.
Before he could gather himself together
to climb out Fatty and Natty, with one
Impulse, laid hold of his legs with teeth
and claw, biting and scratching with all
the fiereeness born of Instinct to protect
themselves against this dangerous enemy.
They realized that the time had come
when 1t was fight or die-or. far worse.
be taken Into captivity. so they followed
the promptings of mother nature and put
their strength together against their foe.
Several minutes went by thus when at
last the man succeeded In freeing himself
from the ferocious little cubs and clam
bered out of the hole, his feet and ankles
bleeding from many wounds made by the
sharp teeth, and his trousers almost torn
from his legs. Just as he leaped down TO
the ground his startled eyes fell upon the
through the grass with long leaps, her
eyes wild with fear for her young. When
the hunter saw her approaching he knew
that he had TO meet an antagonist who
would yield not an inch.
Mrs. Bruno had not gone far In her
search for breakfast when the explosion
of the hunters gun fell upon her ears.
Her keen sense of hearing located the
and her instinct told her that Fatty and
Natty were In danger, SO 1t was that she
reached the place just as the hunter
dragged himself from her house. what
the hurt was to her cubs she did not stop
to question, her one thought being TO
take the life of the intruder who other
wise would take her childrens and her
own.
For the briefest part of second the old
bear looked into the terrorized eyes of the
hunter then she made lunge towards
him, lifting her powerful paw to strike
the blow that would end his days of hunt
ing. But quick as flash the hunter
practiced ia such work--grasped his gun
and dealt old Mrs. Bruno a stunning blow
between the eyes. 1t so dazed the poor
old animal that she staggered over
against the body of the tree and became
quite blind and dizzy with the pain, Dur
ing the few minutes that she was In this
helpless condition the hunter made his
escape going off through the woods and
brush at speed almost equal to that OF
a running horse.
her paw unconsclously to rub her aching
head Fatty and Natty crept stealthily tc
the top Of their house and peeped down
to see how the land lay. In an instant
the frightened little ones were beside
their mother, licking her with their moist
warm tongues and begging her to revive
and speak to them. Bear children love
their mothers just as dearly In their OWL
ways as real human children love theiI
mammas. Mamma, mamma the sor
rowing little cubs walled, 'come-oper
your eyes. 1t is Natty and Fatty who are
calling you. Come-Open your dear eyes.
And just like many. another mother, ole
Mrs. Bruno opened her eyes and looked
her. she staggered down the noun
tainside to little brook, where She
bathed her poor hurt head. Aftei
little she came entirely to her senses
and the three returned to their house
where old Mrs. Grizzle was awaiting
them. The roar Of the gun report hat
brought her thither, for she knew danger
must be behind that terrible noise.
With much excitement the event of thu
hour vaA @nne over, Fatty and Eatr