Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-31
THE GROUND CIRCUIT.
Chlpter Ill.

re was nurryihS aionB IN inns man
ner. with his eyes in the air. when
he was brought UP short. with a
jump. by a smash Of brushwood and
sudden loud "whoosh! whooshv'
somewhere close ahead. lie took an
other step, when the sound was re-
peated. and a great black. furry body
developed itself from behind small
clump OF cedars AT the very edge of
IN" path and few yards in advance.
| Lewis had almost walked over the
animal without observing il. lie
stood very still again and looked at
the hear. which returned the gaze
with little unwinking eyes. lis nose
was horribly smeared with red and
Lewis observed that Il had it's fore
paws planted upon the fresh carcass
After the first startled moment.
Lewis WAS not much frightened. He
:nonensive nature OF the Northern
black bear. and lie expected TO SEQ II
bolt at every moment. Ha continued
TO stare Nxedly at IT. standing quite
still. The bear made no aggressive
demonstration. but seemed unwilling
| TO abandon it's meal. 1t looked nerv-
GUS. frightened, but at tho Same time
obstinate.
Lewis wanted 10 ge, past. lie had
no desire to disturb the animal, but
[ he was in hurry TO continue his
. examination OF Tue wire. no would
have caused him to loose sight of the
line. So after few minutes staring.
I I've whoopeu at the top of his voice. in
the hope Of frightening the stubborn
I beast.
The only effect of this demonstra-
( zion was 10 cause the bears black
lips 1" draw slightly away from the
white ivory below. and suddenly. with
a deep toned srowi, it jumbied up
! with The agility OF Il scored cat AMI
nnunded stra!Sh; at tho rash cleo
Fortunately for Lewis pole was
Within few feet from where he was
at2ndins. Up this he scrambled like
monkey, with the aid OF his climb
The beur reared up and clawcd after
NM out ne was just on, Of reach:
ana TO his intcns" relief the animal
/ made no attempt ascend.
II walled around the pole for a
| minute or two, Looking up suddenly
ana with an air OF extreme bitterness,
and at last went back To the carcass,
rhe iineman was Intensely disEusted
/ with himself. with the bear and with
, The general situation
quito likely he would be held pris-
oner for hours. and his time was Just
then worth about sou an hour. AS
ne ciuEg uncomfor'ably to the polo.
/ the bear was concealed by bushy
spruce, hut he could see more clearly
u %a inc line than when he was on
already darken path. something
caught his eye-a droop.nK OF the
wire. lie had found the fault in tho
large branch had falicn across " The
wires. scrhping or tho insulation and
/ dragged one OF them down. tearing il
| loose from the pole so that il sagged
entangled with the branch .hat
dragged in the mud M IL swaycd 10
ana FRO. u was no wonder that the
! dynamo had "hucked." For IA moment
Lewis almost forgot tho bear was an
animal and sti!l Enthusiastically "A fac
TOR The lincman might, perhaps.
si,ur so he might possibly creep
awaE' h"t ne felt certain that the
nev"r endure 10 see him splicing wires
ia tac :uii view and within reach Vel
oSchIrrd 10 hihi that if lie could
reach Niosn wires M might lind a
means OF disposing OF his enemy.
whatever he would do must be done
/ quickly lie slid down couple Of
/ tcei listened. and let himself gently
. 80 me sronnd. lie was still out OF
strpped Immediately back Into tho
| th!ckets. The bear did not seem ~
nave observed anything, and he pro-
uee"e" 70 make Semicircle that
| tho wire u'' III
l was slippery. deiioatc and dirty
work But the drizzlc had made twirs
snn leaves SO soft that they did not
snap and he moved AS silently as n
syn hunter. After about ten minutes
OF this sort of progress it seemed IA
MIN that he had gon" Ear enough, lilo
hhihprUaSneu the trail again redoubling
ms precautions. and peepcd from bn.
minu stump. lie had. in fact. gone n
n,'ic 100 Tar anc had passed tho
nnsEihg In INC wire aud further
I siHnce showed him rhat tho bears m
rntioh mad been caught by some OF
n!S movements. II was sitting IN
ana l"okinS toward him. bur il ala mo-.
So" 20 SOC him. and the wind was in
/ pos ton. MS
80, i:N MARVIN HOWELL.