The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-26

ana eylng me with rapidly increasing
wrath, until with sudden burst Of
fury he lunged forward dug and bit
furiously at the rough lava, roaring
terribly, and fairly bouncing up and
down with rage when heshurt himself
on the saw-like edges. Then he tried
the reaching, twisting, squirming sys-
tenn again, until, exhausted and dis
couraged, he suddenly extricated him
self, to stand swaying back and forth
outide till his warth again turned
him into raging whfrIwind
How long he kept this up I do not
know, but 1t seemed an interminable
time before my scare wore off suf-
ficiently for me to realize that my
hide was whole, and that the rocks
we're standing the issue great deal
better than was the grizzly.
Just about this moment he went
clambering up overhead Of sudden
and came down at me from above.
The fissure in which / stood nearly
halved block OF lava about the size
OF woodshed, and was somewhat
bell-mouthed at the top. Being
wedged tightly into the crack, the
grizzly all but had me before | could
change from my upright position. l
threw myself over sidewise just in
time to save my skull from his power
full claws.
Then the bear apparently turned
himself into india-rubber, and pro-
ceeded to spread out and claw and
twist and squirm until he almost had
his hooks upon me. How he did
rage and wriggle to reach just one
inch farther! Had / been disinter-
ested party, could have sympathized
with the eager brute, in his foiled
ambition. AS it was, crowded my
self into all the tiny creyices in my
attempt to become quite fiat, and
wished with all my heart tnat was
smaller and thinner man.
But at last he gave up and backed
out in great wrath; with still greater
agility he jumped to the ground and
came at me again from the side en-
trance. Then had furious scramble
pulling myself out of the creyices and
regaining my upright position.
THE bears maneuvre gave me an
idea-the first one / had had. /
took my hat and held the rim just
within reach of the great hooks, that
We're viciously clawing the rock-wall
This encouraged Mr.. Grizzly; he fair
ly outdid himself in his efforts to
gather in the rest of my head-gear.
When he had got into the crack as
far as seemed possible and threatened
to become disgusted and pull himself
out, thumped his toes with slab
shaped fragment of rock, all Of which
tended to keep him busy at the inn
possible entrance.
His obviously futile rage entirely
cleared my mind from the panic that
had possessed me, and my wits set
about devising some means Of further
turning the tables on the grizzly. A
little whisper Of hope-it seemed a
strange, new thing thrilled me with
life, and my wits worked in earnest.
"Then came to me the thought Of
the rope was carrying when Mr..
Grizzly first whirled to give chase.
and with it hazy idea that in my
panic I might have forgotten to drop
it. l instinctively felt round with my
feet, and presently, sure enough,
hooked my toe through the coil.
fed little more of my hat into the
grizzly's claws, punched himsup bit
with my splinter of rock, and while he
roared and tussled with his problem,
wondered how I could use that
rope in solving mine.
After a moment my mind recalled
the knobby projections that barred
my further entrance into the fissure.
Tie him up, Of course, said /; only
be quick about it..
First of all wrapped my hand
kerchief round good stout knob of
rock to keep its uneven edges from
cutting the rope. Making a couple of
half-hitches in the blight of the rope,
slipped them over the huge paw
that was eagerly interesting itself
with the crown of my hat.
Now, old man, come right in
here after me, said l, giving him the
remainder of my hat and pounding
his toes viciously with my slap of
rock. Mr.. Grizzly responded with
roar that made the ground jar, and
by a tremendous effort wriggled for
ward a full two inches. Then /
shifted my position to guard against
being fouled when the rope drew taut,
took my turn round the knob, tight
ened on him and made fast.
How the old fellow did roar and
thrashl But he didn't have bit OF
purchase. the half-hitches frightened
with the strain, and the strong
,hInd ,nr,n hnla nnrin.. Z ..A..rod