The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-03-20
Copyright, 1911, By W. G. Chapman
CHAPTER v.

The Bear, the Man and the Flood.
The water was deep enough to re-
ceive her dive and the pool was long
enough to enable her to swim a few
strokes. The first chill of the icy wa
ter was soon lost in the vigorous mo-
lions IN which she INDUCED, but no
more human form, however hardy and
Injured, could long endure that frigid
bath. Reluctantly, yet with the knowl-
edge that she must go, after one more
sweeping dive and a few magnificent
strokes, she raised her head from the
water tapping her white shoulders and
shaking her face clear from the drops
of crystal, faced the shore. 1t was no
longer untenanted, she was no longer
alone.
What she saw startled and alarmed
her beyond measure. Planted on her
clothes, looking straight at her, hav.
ing come upon her In absolute 81
lence, nothing having given her the
least warning of his approach, and
now gazing at her with red, hungry
evil, vicious eyes, the eyes of the
covetous filled with the cruel lust OF
desire and carnal possession, and yet
with a CLINT of surprise in them, too
as If he did not know quite what to
make of the white loneliness of this
unwonted apparition flashing so sud
denly at him out of the water, this
strange invader of the domain OF
which he was sole master and lord
paramount, stood a great, monstrous
frightful looking grizzly bear. Ursus
Horribilis, indeed.
He was an aged monarch Of the
mountains, reddish brown in color
originally, but now hoary dirty
gray. His body was massive and
burly, his legs short, dark colored and
immensely powerful. His broad square
head moved restlessly. His fanged
mouth opened and low hoarse grow
came from the red cavern of his
throat He was an old and terrible
monster who had tasted the blood O.
man and who would not hesitate tt
attack without provocation, especially
anything at once so harmless and 81
whitley inviting as the girl in thu
pool.
The girl forgot the chill of the water
in the horror OF that moment. Alone
naked, defenseless, lost in the noun
tains, with the most powerful, san
culinary and ferocious beast of the
continent In front of her, she coult
neither fight nor fly; she could onl!
wait his pleasure. He snuffed at he
clothing a moment and stood will
one fore foot advanced for a secont
or two growing deeply. evidently, sh'
thought with almost superhumal
keenness of perception, preparing t.
leap into the pool and seize upon her
The rush of the current as it swirlet
about her caused her to sway gently
otherwise she stood motiOnless ant
apprehensive, awfully expectant. Sh'
had made no sound, and save for tina
low growl the great beast had beer
equally silent. There was an awfu
fxity In the gaze she turned upon hin
and he wavered under it. 1t annoyed
him. It bespoke a little of the dom
nance of the human. But she wa
too surprised, too unnerved, too des
perately frightened to put forth thu
full power of mind over matter. Their,
was piteous appeal in her gaze. Thu
bear realized this and mastered he
sufficiently
She did not know whether she wa
in the water or in the air; there wer,
but two points upon which her con
seriousness was focused In the vas
ellipse of her Imagination. Another
moment or two and all ooherency Of
thought would be gone. The grizzly
still unsettled and uneasy before bel
awful glance, but not deferred by 1t
turned its great Lad sideways a Lit
tie to escape the direct immobiIe
stare brought his sharp clawed foo
down heavily and lurched forward.
Scarcely had minute elapsed il
which all this happened. That huge
threatening heave Of the great bod!
toward her relieved the tension. Shs
found voice at last. Although it was
absolutely futile, she realized as she
cried, her released lips framed the
loud appeal.
Help! for Gods sake"
Although she knew she cried but
to the bleak walls of the canon, the
dropping pines, the rushing river, the
distant heaven, the appeal went forth
accompanied by the mightiest con
Duration known to man.
"For Gods sake, help!"
How dare poor humanity SO plead
the doubter cries. What is 1t to Goo
II one suffers, another bleeds, another
dies? What answer could come out Of
that silent sky? Sometimes the Lore
speaks with the loud voice of mems
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