Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

a man. the most dangerous animal in the world?'
But the cubs, like many another fool that doesn't
know danger when he it and mistakes his lack
of wisdom for bravery, wanted to see of this
dangerous animal, and tried to back to
They were not afraid! No, not they! At such times
the poor old mother bear would run clumSily after
the awkward cubs, growing, gruntlng and SCOdng
in great tribulation Presently she became angry
in earnest, and struck one of the cubs blow with
her paw that sent it tumbling down little hill.
bowling and whining if it was being killed. After
that the youngsters toddled ahead and the older
bear anxiously glancing back at me- wadded after
them and soon disappeared in the thicket. l fol-
lowed; but lost them in the underbrSh and returned
to the cabin.
shoudered guns and started in pursuit. We
forgot the dogs and left them sleeping on the sunny
side of the cabin. AfterWard we were glad that
had not disturbed their rest.
The island small, and we felt the old
bear would not try to escape by swimming, because
we supposed her cubs could not follow her. They
would perish in the water which cold and broad
and swift too cold and broad and swift for
Balser or me to try to swim-and the loving old
bear would desert her cubs. She would
bravey stay by their side, and would give her life
save them, without one thought of herself. Balser
and l. therefore, felt that could not fail to
bag the whole family.
ave hurried to the spot where the bears had
tered the thicket thrust aside the bushes. and
took up the spoor on the soft ground. The tracks
plainly visible, and were always in the same
relative position, cubs in front. and the mother
in the place of danger guarding their retreat.
Il confess my heart softened when l thought of
the old mother bear holding her life nothing for
the sake of her cubs; but my sympathy did not
check pursuit
1--WE moved cautiously and silently with guns al
ways ready for instant USE for we knew that the
mother bear would fight like forty demons when she
learned that her cubs were in danger. We knew
that when she and realized that we after
her children, she would charge upon without the
slightest fear She would if she could, engage at
the peril of her own life while her cubs escaped. and
would gladly give every drop of her blood to save
her | Ike a COWardlV
But it seemed to be duty to kill the BEARS
and we hurried forward on mission of death. We
made slow progress through the thicket; but we
knew could not have far to go until the water
would stop and the bears.
After we had followed the tracks short distance
into the thicket, we came to small hill on which
grew several large walnut trees. We assembled the
HILL and as heads above the crest
the mother bear and her cubs playing in small
lit ravne just below We each hid behind large
tree to watch them.
Poor old mother bear! She thought she had
taken her family to place of safety; but no place
is safe from that most dangerous OF all animals. man.
was playing with her babies No pretier sight ever
greeted the eyes of murderouS hunter. She lay
her back with all four feet in the air, and when the
playful cubs to her, she pushed them away with
her great horny paw gently a woman touches
the chin of the babe cooling in her lap Then she
would let them clutch her paw or her great, hairy
throat between their baby jaws. and would allow
them to wool her puppy does its playmate.
IF, for moment being out of BREATH the cubs
would rest their launches, laughing and painting,
with their little red mouths open and their tongues
hanging out, she would incite them to renew the
froc by feinting at them with her paws by lifting
her lips from her white teeth in mimic anger. Then
fierce baby grows, and the dear old mother bear, all
unconscious of the overhanging shadow of death.
reveed in the sweetest bliss that bear
know.
For FIVE minutes Balser and watched the beau
tifu little comedy with its impending tragic end
After the cubs tired and out of breath they lay