The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-27
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z. @F~BY JULES NRNI

Every minute the sound came
nearer, till at last only thin
coating separated them from
their assailants.
Presently this gave way with
loud crack, and a huge dark mass
rolled over into the room.
Altamont had already swung
his Ratchet to strike, when he was
arrested by a well-known voice,
exclaiming:
For heavens sake, stop!"
1.-THE doctor! the doctor!" cried
johnson.
And the doctor 1t actually was
who had. tumbled in among them
in such undignifisd fashion.
How do we do, good friends?"
he said, picking himself up.
His companions stood stupefied
for a moment, but Joy soon loos-
ened their tongues, and each
rushed eagerly forward to well
come his old comrade. Hatteras
was fairly overcome with emo
been attacked by a troop OF
ton, and Rugged him like a child.
But how did you know We had
been attacked by a troop of
bears?" asked Altamont, when
they got their breath. What we
were most afraid of was that you
would come back, never dream
ing of danger"
"Oh, saw it all. Your repeat
ed shots gave me the alarm.
When you commenced firing ]
was beside the wreck of the Por-
poise, but l climbed up a hum
mock, and discovered five bears
close on your heels. l crept eau
tiously nearer, sometimes going
on all tours, sometimes slipping
between great block of ice, till
came at last quite close to our
fort, and then l found the bears
working away like beavers"
But what danger you were in,
Mr.. Clawbonny." said Bell. ANY
moment they might have turned
round and attacked YOU"
when l saw what the bears
were up to, I determined to get
back to you by some means or
other. l waited till 1t got dark,
then / glided noiselessly along to-
wards the powder magazine. !
speedily commenced operations
with my snow knife. A famous
tool it is. For three mortal
hours l have been hacking and
heaving away, but here / am at
last, tired enough and starving,
but still safe"
''To share our fate!" said Alta
mont.
mo, to save you all; but, first
give me biscuit and a bit of
meat"
A big meal was soon before
him, but the little man could talk
while he was eating.
did you say to save us?'
asked Bell.
"Assuredly!" was the reply.
Howl" everyone asked.
my plan is quite simple, and
part of the work is done already"
What do you mean?"
you shall see. But / am for
getting that I brought a compan-
ion with me-"
What do you say?" said John
son.
The doctor went into the pas
sage. and brought back a dead
fox, newly killed.
II shot it this morning." he
continued. well use it."
What do you mean?" asked
Altamont.
II Mean to blow up the bears
en- masse with 100 pounds of
powder"
"But where is the POWDER"
exclaimed his friends.
"In the magazine. This pass
age I dug will lead to it. 1 made
1t purposely."
And where is the mine to be?'
inquired Altamont.
"At the farthest point from the
house and stores"
And how will you manage to
entice the bears there, all to one
spot?"
"I'll look after that. Let us
set to work. We have 100 feet
more to add to our passage to-
night, and that is no easy matter.
There are five of us-we can
take turns. Bell will begin, and
we will lie down and sleep mean
time"
One by one, all went to work;
and in 10 hours-that is to say,
about 8 in the morning-the gall
lery was entirely open.
With the first streak of day,
the doctor reconnoitered the po-
sition of the enemy. The patient
animals we're still occupying
their old position. prowling up
and down and growing.
Fastening away to the mine, he
had strong stake fixed firmly
on thu granite foundation, on the
top of which the dead fox was
fastened. A rope was attached to
the lower part of the stake, long
enough to reach the powder
stores.
This is the bait" he said,
pointing to the dead fox, "and
here is the mime" he added. roll
ing in a keg of powder contain
ing about 100 nouuda