New-York tribune., 1908-04-12

deliver "a deadly stroke. Once however. !
remember that the larger bear landed fairly
on poor Prince. and the devoted dog IN turn
landed against the stone wall of the cave with
a force that seemed to me would break not
only every bone IN his body. but might also
crack the rock. The poor dog laV stunned and
bruised for "a moment, then staggered 70 MS teet'
and llmpcd again INTO the midst OF the Tray
Although I had been IN the cave only "a few
seconds. my eyes we're growing used % the
gloom and as the bears were between me and
the light could clearly distinguish their
forms.
Co. recovered my gun and, with the familiar
weapon once more in nv hands rational con-
,ciou-ness seemed 20 return. when l began
% cast around IN my mlnd TOR some way to
help my friends IIge and Prince Time Int
again the bears charged the dog and re-
treated but when they retrcated they backed
toward me. and often came SO close 20 where
! was sitting that l should have moved farther
INTO the cave had l been able - push The
stone wall with
ON one such occasion the larger bear came
very close 10 me. and | hastily rose % my
feet but my left leg gave way under me, and
down | went - the floor again. In my eN-
cltcmcnt felt no pam, but knew -pnrthns
was wrong with my leg II had never before
deserted me in time OF danger, but had always
carried me away as fast a, any boy could run.
| never was very brave. and there Is nothing
SD useful 10 an lnquIsiuve coward as good
pair Of legs | do not believe that one should
fight and run away, and 1--we 20 night another
iaV but my motto always has been Kun
/ away before the fight. and keep Your skin all
/ whole and tight was disappointed IN my
I leg for the tir-t time. and On very important
occasion
Il gr,Nlel back as far as could 60 from
/ the bears. lnj sat upright with my back
against the wall pt the cave soon / noticed
/ that the bears and the dog We're gradually
| moving backward toward me. and / knew
! that my poor body before long would furnish
/ them IL battle-ground They would be- fighting
] over me.
/ Fright seemed ., clear my brain. I
/ brought my gun To- my shoulder. intending
To- try 90 shoot one, pt the bears III case u came
near me The fight between the logs and
| the bear, wlgrd turou-ly. the bear alter
ultclv rctrcatug toward me and again -harg-
ing vleiously On the dogs. For a time the
/ bears did not come SEQ near - me as / Desired
for Il shot I determined % be sure II my
/ ann for I knew there was only one bullet be
| tween me and death the one IN my gun
Should | wound the bear and not Kill It,
| knew | should not live 70 Ipad another gun
So the precious bullet must find lodgmcUt
| either IN the BRAN III the heart ot the bear
/ Could ! kill one pt the bears the other
probably would make Il dash tor liberty, pI
the dogs would occupy it. attention. and
could reach the mouth ot the cave uumolc,tci
Il grew impatient when the bear did not come
. toward me. and after httle time | toolshiy
/ resolved 10 fire had raised my gun to my
shoulder. when suddenly the cave became
dark Ini could barely distinguish the form ot
the bear. SEQ | lowered the weapon The next
instant, with q mlxcd feeling of horror and
loy | saw my fathers form against the light
right IN line with the bear. Had I shot and
missed the bear surely should have killed
my father.
" The bear, also 5lW my father and retreatc,
backward toward me. Duc of them the
larger one. lett the fight FIRST and made q hur
red retreat In It's haste It self preservation
1t came within yard of me Now was m
chance
" l distinctly remember ,ay,ug 10 myself
Make haste slowly Tom Andy Bill tor yol
or tins bear will dir within the next minute p
| therefore deliberately brought my gun {,
my shoulder. aimed as accurately aS poSSIbl,
at the bcAr- heart, and pulled the trigger
| There wa> "a binding flash. - terrific roar
and | felt l- If a mule hJi been trying 20 kicl
me through the Stone wall, violent Wa tn,
rebound 'f the gun
Immediately after I fired law the hug,
black brute puug INTO the tir. and then Il
tell pu mc. ! tclt the sharp trIstles of It
neck prick my face | remember feeling th,
blood from ITS wound trucking through my
clothing. and after that knew nothing "a n
/ awakened IN bod at home tW' days attcrNirl
Ny father and Bll-er told me the story %
the happenings outside the cave iurlu.