Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-02

BRAIN Here was his rescuer-a perilous one, to be
sure-vouchsafed to him by whim Of the In
branchy twig before his face fearful lest his con-
cealment should not be adequate. But in his eE
element he disturbed his balance. and with the
effort OF his recovery the water swired noticeably
all about him. His heart sank. Assuredy. the
bear would take aarm at this and be afraid to
come for the fish,
But to his surprise the great beast, which had
seemed to hesitate plunged impetuousy into tho
stream. Nothing according to a bears knowledge
of life, could have made that sudden disturbance
in the pool but some fsh-loving 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
branches, and the noise of his spashing 4
clear notification that trespassers and rleddlers
had better keep off. That salmon his by K
right of discovery; and he was going to have it.
The bear, for all the seeming cumsiness of his
bulk, was redoubtabe swimmer; and almost be
fore Barnes had decided clearly his proper
course Of action those heavy, grunting snorts and
vast explosions of breath were at his ear. Enc.
mously loud they sounded shot thus close along
up his mind the instant.
The bunch of twigs which had arrested to cp.
proach of the floating salmon lay just abo.t IN
arms length from Barnes face Swimming h:-h
his mighty shoulders thrust up wavo bcco-c Lin
which buried Barnes head safely from view. to
bear reached the salmon. Grabbing it triumphansl7
in its jaws he turned to mako for shore again.
This was Barnes moment. Both arms shot. on,
before him. Through the suffocating confusion bis
cutching fingers encountered the bears launches
Sinking into the long fur they closed upon it Wit
grip Of steel Then, instinctively Barnes shut
his eyes and clenched his teeth and waited for the
shock, while his lungs felt 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 unexplicabe attack from the rear
and from the Depths the animal threw himself
shoulderhigh from the water, and hurled himself
forward with all his strength. Barnes felt thore
tremendous launches heaving irresistibly beneath
his clutching fingers. He felt himself drawn OFT
straight, and dragged ahead till he though his an.
kle would snap. Almost he came to letting go, ts
the ankle. But he held on, as much with his
will with his grip. Then the Shiny thing in TIC
depths gave way. He felt himself being jerked out
through the water-free. His fingers relaxed thei,
clutch on the bears fur and he to the surface
gasping, blinking, and coughing.
For moment or two he padded softly recover.
ing his breath and shaking the water from nos
trils and eyes. He had instant of apprehen.
siveness, lest the bear should turn upon him and
attack him at disadvantage; and by way Of pre-.
caution he gave forth the most savage and piercing
yell that his laboring lungs were capable Of Bus
he at once that on this score he had nothing o
fear. It wellfrighteued bear, there swim.
ming franticaly for the sandspit; while the dead
salmon. quite forgotten. drifting slowly away
the sullen current
Barnes foot was hurting fercey but his heart
was light. Swimming at leisure. as to just keep
head against the stream he watched the bear scut-
tie out upon the sand Once safe on dry land the
great beast turned and glanced back with a timid
air to see what of being it was that had
so astoundingly assailed him. Man he had seen
before, but never swimming like an otter;
and the sight was nothing to reassure him. Ono
longing look he cast upon the salmon, now floating
some distance away; but that to his startled mind
was just lure of this terrifying and perfdious
creature whose bright gray eyes were staring at
him SO steadily from the surface of the water. He
turned quickly and made off into the woods fol-
lowed by loud, daunting laugh which spurred his