The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-24
LANOOK AND THE BEAR
BY HERBERT COOLIDGE.

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To the east of Mount Shasta lies
the country that was once Lanook's s.
There in the days of his youth he
chased deer and antelope and led his
people against the marauding Mo-
docs. The valleys are all fenced and
EARNED now, and Lanook in many
respects is "all same white man"
But he loves the old wild Indian
days. loves to roam again in the land
of youth and strength and achieve
enent. The old man was a daily Wis
ator when lived in the country that
once was his, and time and time
again he would bare his forearm and
knee, show me the deep. livid scars
of grizzly's teeth, and tell me the
following story.
Long before the whites came he
and Nishka, now many years dead,
we're returning from Pitt River with
a big catch of salmon strung on a
pole carried on their shoulders.
Nishka walked ahead Before them
ran Lanook's little dog, clearing the
oath of chipmunks and squirrels.
AS they descended a slope which
'overlooks Fall Valley, they heard the
aittle dog yelp as If in great fear,
and saw him burst fvom a manzanita
thfcket. He was pursued by a giant
grizzly bear.
Nishka fed. Lanook scrambled up
the nearest tree, scrubby juniper.
The bear followed the dog straight
for the masters perch, until, catch
ing sight of Nishka's buckskin gar
ments fitting through the brush, he
turned and gave him chase.
Lanook, with breath held and eyes
'bulging, watched his friends flight.
He was racing like the wind, but it
was as If toddling baby should at
tempt to outrun his father. The
great slouching brute gained as If the
6eet Indian had been hobbled; in al
most no time he was close upon him.
The poor fellow, in despair, lodged,
barely escaped the beasts claws, and
made a dive into a laurel thicket.
The bear crashed after-then all was
silent.
The silence awoke Lanook. He
aeaped from his tree, gathered UP
the bow he had thrown aside before
s1llnbing, and ran to Nishka's rescue.
The bear must have heard the rush
of moccasins on the trail, for as
tr-ff
s'snge, the grizzly emerged from the
tSlckct and reared on his launches,
ear{Eg teeth that were dripping
blood.
Nanook greeted him with two ar
TEows. then fed for his tree. The
bear, wounded and furious, chased
Aim as he had chased his friend,
with the fearful speed no man could
equal. Nevertheless, the Indian
reached his juniper and ran up it
7ike chipmunk, this time retaining
dis hold on his bow.
In a pouch hung from his neck
Eanook carried poison made from
BLACK spiders, the fang-sacs of a rat
tlesnake and juice of wild parsnips;
and while the grizzly pursued the
bowling cur round the tree, he tipped
three arrows with this death-dealing
,intment.
The juniper which Lanook hal
climbed was the first treet at haLd-
mot at all the one he would have
chosen to escape a grizzly. Stout
branches projected from the very
ground; besides, the tree tapered alb
Fuptly, and was not very tall. Round
sand round it raced the dog. Finally
Hie made quick dash, darted into
"A big patch of deer brush, and there
succeeded in eluding his pursuer.
Soon the grizzly came back to the
tzxc. squatted on his launches, and
sHtEcrcelyw watching the Indian. Then,
bis breath recovered, he stood up
right on his hind legs, and stretched
q terrible, claw-horned paw upward.
And how he did stretch LanooS
said 1t was as If the animals limbs
pulled out hands length at each
joint. He climbed till he feared the
'fapering treetop would break.
The bear soon gave mp the reach
ing idea and began to climb. In this
Eie was as awkward as he had been
sigile in the chase; but With the lower
branches aifording support for hind
and forepaws. it seemed likely that
lse could work bis way upward