Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-15

brain. Here was his rescuer-a pcrilous one, to be
sure-vouchsafed to him b. some wA.:a Of the in.
scrutable forest fates. He drew down another
branchy twig before his face fearful lest his con-
cealrnent should be adequate. But in his ex
element no disturbed his balance and with tho
effort Of his recovery the water swirod noticeably
all about him. His heart sank. Assuredy. the
come for tho fish.
But to his surprise the great beast, which had
seemed to hesitate, plunged impetuousy into tho
stream. Nothing. according to bears knowledge
of life. could have made that sudden disturbance
in the pool but fsh-oving otter mink, in.
tent upon selling the booty. Indignant at the
prospect of being forestalled by any such furtive
marauder, the bear hurled himself forward with
such force that the spray flew high into the
branches, and the noise of his splashng was
clear notification that trespassers and meddlers
had better keep off. That salmon was his by
right Of discovery; and he going to have it.
The bear, for all the seeming clumsness of his
bulk, a redoubtable swimmer; and almost be-
fore Barnes had decided clearly on his proper
of action those heavy, grunting snorts and
vast explosions of breath at his ear. Enor.
mousy loud they sounded shot thus close along
the surface Of the water Perforce Barnes made
up his mind on the instant
The bunch of twigs which had arrested the APP
DrOach Law iuS abOut
arms length from Barnes face. Swimming high,
his mighty shoulders thrust up a wave before him
which buried Barnes head safely from view the
bear reached the salmon Grabbing it triumphantly
in its jaws, he turned to make for shore again.
This Barnes moment. Both arms shot out
before him. Through the sufocating confusion his
clutching fingers encountered the bears launches
Sinking into the long fur. they closed upon it with
a grip of steel Then, nstinctivcly, Barnes shut
his eyes and cenched his teeth and waited for the
shock. while his lungs felt as if in another minute
they would burst.
But it was no long time he had to wait perhaps
two seconds, while amazement in the bears brain
translated itself through panic into action Utterly
Mortified by this unexplioable attack from the rear
and from the depths, the animal threw himself
shoulderhish from the water, and hurled himself
forward with all his strength. Barnes felt those
tremendous launches heaving irresistibly beneath
his clutchng fingers. He felt himself drawn out
straight, and dragged ahead till he though his an.
kle would snap. Almost he to letting CO. to
save the ankle. But he held on as much with his
will as with his grip. Then the Shiny thing In the
depths gave way. He felt himself being jerked out
Water-free. rela ad thotr
clutch on the bears fur, and he to the surface
gasping, blinking, and coughing
For moment two he padded softly recover.
ing his breath and shaking the water from nos.
trils and eyes He had an instant of apprehen.
siveness, lest the bear should turn upon him and
attack him at disadvantages and by way Of pre-.
caution he forth the savage and piercing
yell that his laborng lungs were capable Of But
he saw at once that this score he had nothing ia
fear. 1t wolltrightened bear there swim.
ming frantcaly for the sandsp; while the dead
salmon, quite forgotten. drifting slowly away
the suen current.
Barnes foot was hurting fercoly, but his heart
was light Swimming at leisure so as to just keep
head against the stream, he watched the bear scut.
tie out upon the sand. Once safe dry land the
great beast turned and glanced back with a tt,nid
air to see what manner of being it was that had
so astoundngly assaed him. Man he had seen
before. but never man swimming like an otter;
and the sight was nothing to reassure him. One
longing look he cast upon tho salmon now floating
some distance away but that to his startled mind
was just lure of this terrifying and perfdloui
creature whose bright gray eyes staring a
him so steadily from the surface of the water II
turned quickly and made off into the woods fol
lowed by loud, daunting laugh which spurred hif
pace to a panicky gallop
When he was gone. Barnes swan to tho sands
pit There he stripped, wrung out his drppinl
clothes, and lay down in the hot sand to let thu
sun soak deep into his chilled veins.
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