Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-04-22
CHAPTER vIII-(Coutipuedl


Il mean to blow up the bears en-
masse with 100 pounds OF powder"
But where is the powder?" exclaim-
ed his friends.
I'm the magazine. This passage l
dug will lead to 1t / made 1t pur-
posely."
And where is the mine to BET" in
quired Altamont.
"At the farthest point from the
house and stores"
And how will you manage to entice
the bears there, ali to one spot?"
I'll look after that. Let us set to
work. We have 100 feet more to add
to our passage tonight, 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
ten hours-that Is to say. about s in
the morning-the gallery was entirely
open
With the first streak Of day the doc
tor reconnoitered the position of the
enemy The patient animals were stih
occupying theil old position, proving
up and down and growing.
Fastening away to the mine, he had
a strong stake fixed firmly on the
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 pow
der stores.
This is the bait" he said, pointing
to the dead fox. ''and here is the mine,"
he added. rolling in a keg of powder
containing about 100 pounds.
And how will you manager" asked
Altamont
by hauling in this rope we leave
the dead fox exposed to view. The
bears are so famished with their long
fasting that they won't lose much time
In rushing toward their unexpected
meal. Well. just at that very moment,
1 shall set fire to the mine, and blow
up both the guests and the meal"
Capital! Capitall" shouted john
son, who had been listening with in
tense interest.
Hatteras said nothing, for he had
that he wanted no further explanation.
But Altamont must know the why and
wherefore Of everything"
But doctor" he said. "can you
reckon on your match so exactly that
you can be quite sure 1t will fire the
mine at the right moment?"
1 don't need to reckon at all; that's
difficulty easily got over"
They you have a match a hundred
feet long?"
No"
You are simply going to lay a train
Of powder"
"One Of us must light the powder"
said Johnson. I'm ready-ready and
willing"
Quite useless to risk your life,
brave fellow" replied the doctor, hold
Ing out his hand. "All our lives are
precious. and they will be all spared,
thank God!
I'VE have an electric battery" he
continued, and lines long enough to
serve our purpose? We can fire our
mine whenever we please, in an in
stant and without the slightest dan
GER"
'Hurrah!" exclaimed johnson.
"Hurrah!" echoed the others, with
out needing whether the enemy heard
them or not.
The doctors idea was Immediately
carried out, and the lines connected.
BY o'clock everything was ready.
Johnson was stationed In the powder
magazine, in charge Of the cord which
held the bait.
Now" said Clawbonny to his COM
panions, load your guns In case our
assailants are not killed. Stand be-
side Johnson. and the moment the ex-
plosion is over rush out"
"All right" said Altamont.
I'VE have done all we can to help
ourselves. May heaven help us!"
Hatteras, Altamont and Bell repair
ed to the powder magazine. while the
doctor remained alone beside the pile.
Soon he heard Johnson's voice in
the distance calling out Ready"
"All right" was the reply.
Johnson pulled the rope that brought
the body Of the fox on top the Ice.
The next instant the bears had eager
ly rushed to seize the booty.
"Firel" called out Johnson, and at
once the electric spark was sent along
the lines right into the keg of powder.
A formidable explosion ensued; the
house was shaken as IL by an earth
quake, and the walls cracked asunder.
Hatteras, Altamont and Bell hurried
out, with the guns. But four of the
bears lay dead, and the fifth. half
roasted, though alive, was scambering
away in terror, as fast as his legs
could carry him.
"Hurrah!" Three cheers for Claw
bonny!" they shouted. and overwhelm-
ed the doctor with plaudits and thanks
Next morning there was a singular
rise In the temperature, the thermom-
eter going up to IL degrees above zero
This comparative heat lasted sew