Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-09-24

Yards, to escape the worst OF the heat
and smoke. Then he turned TO the lett
and kept on parallel with the shore for
some distance before heading on g long
slant for the island, lest that tearing
wind should sweep him past 1t and out
into the mad turmoil beyond. Soon the
icy waves were flashing over him, the
raft wallowed and swung. steering
heavily and he longed for his canoe.
But his heart thrilled in e%xultation as
he slogged on with straining shoulders
and aching wrists; and slowly the is
land drew neal Already he had marked
a low and sedgy bit of shore where he
could make landing without damage to
the precious raft.
About this time he caught sight Of
the moose and her calf, swimming to-
ward the same goal. He glanced at
them sympathetically. They, too, had
fought their way out of the jaws Of
the red hell behind him. Presently he
saw the little bear go swimming past
them at a pace which left them speed
lily far in the rear. This puzzled him,
III Tx IClI oulC tAAht q AlAOOcN NOAAA
swim as fast as any bear unless it were
the half amphibious white monster Of
the arctics.
Then. looking more closely, he saw
that the pair we're in trouble. He saw
that the mother was drowning herself
in q desperate effort to support the
exhausted calf. This would never do!
And that peSky bear was making shore
without any trouble at all! He had al
ways had a friendly feeling for the
moose, anyway, above all the other
creatures of the wild, and never would
shoot one unless absolutely in need Of
red meat. He put fresh vigor into his
strokes, and pushed over toward that
piteous struggle.
AS he ranged alongside them the COW
stared up at him with despairing eyes.
Bracing his knees firmly between the
timbers Of his plunging craft, with his
left hand he reached far over. grabbed
the calf by the scruff of its neck, and
dragged its shoulders and long forelegs
onto the raft. Holding those legs Sc
curely under his left knee he padded
hard for the island.
The calf struggled feebly for a mo-
ment OF two, then relaxed with q sud-
den n Of security, feeling something
more substantial beneath him than
that elusive neck Of his mothers upon
which he had been trying to climb. The
COW, relieved Of her burden, rose higher
in the water, greedily filed her tor
tured lungs, then grunted with anger
and alarm as she saw her precious off,
| spring apparently being snatched from
her. In three o. four strokes she over
took the raft and tried to board 1t. The
man pushed her aside several times,
with quick thrustS of his paddle; and
presently she seemed to realize that he
was a friend, an ally. Calming down
at once she swan along close beside
the raft, now and then nuzzling at the
Calls flank to assure herself OF his
safety.
A few strenuous minutes more and
the beach was gained. The raft ground
ed heavily In q surf tossed tangle of
dead reeds. The mar sprang to his feet,
releasing his prisoner, hastily splashed
ashore, and clambered to the top Of the
steep rock. He felt by no means sure
that the COW fully appreciated what he
had done for her, and he was taking no
risks with the temper Of the worried
mother. The COW. however, needed him
not at all. She nosed the calf all over
as he struggled sturdily to his feet
among the pursuing surf. Then she led
him above the reach OF the waves,
shook herself nightly, and stood for
him to nurse-which wa the first thing
he thought Of.
(To be continued