St Nicholas [serial] . [ApkiI seems so slow a pace. Caspar knew his danger,and if he ever ran in his life he ran then. One thing he thought he had learned to perfec-tion, and had practiced in leisure hours,—to load arifle while running. He tried to do it now, butseeing that he lost ground fearfully, gave it up, andbringing his rifle to a trail dashed on at his bestspeed. He was a noble runner, and for a little timeactually seemed to gain upon the bear; but hisbreath was beginning to come in quick gasps, whilethe bear could keep up that long, rolling gait for to his side. A moment after, Caspar
St Nicholas [serial] . [ApkiI seems so slow a pace. Caspar knew his danger,and if he ever ran in his life he ran then. One thing he thought he had learned to perfec-tion, and had practiced in leisure hours,—to load arifle while running. He tried to do it now, butseeing that he lost ground fearfully, gave it up, andbringing his rifle to a trail dashed on at his bestspeed. He was a noble runner, and for a little timeactually seemed to gain upon the bear; but hisbreath was beginning to come in quick gasps, whilethe bear could keep up that long, rolling gait for to his side. A moment after, Caspar was in trsaddle, and the bear, seeming to realize that tlhorse could outrun him, paused with an angry grow Now then, old fellow! cried Caspar; Ipay you Just wait until I load ! He swiftly rammed down a charge, and put oncap, while the bear stood waving his head from siito side. The rifle was loaded, and throwingbridle across his arm, Caspar took steady aim aifired. Crack! The cinnamon rose upon his hind paws, stru. THROWING HIS BRIDLE ACROSS HIS ARM, CASPAR TOOK STEADY AIM, AND FIRED. hours. He began to wish that he had let thecreature alone, but the wish was too late. At thismoment, when he had almost lost hope, he hearda distant neigh. It was Fleetfoot, anxious for hisreturn. The sound gave him new courage, andraising his fingers to his mouth, he uttered thesharp whistle with which he had been wont to callhis horse. But he did not slacken his speed,—nay,he even increased it, dashing forward, with wildeyes, heaving chest and beating heart, repeatinghis whistle as he ran. Still the bear gained, whenthe rush of hoofs was heard, and Fleetfoot, trailingthe lariat, which he had dragged from the groundat his masters call, dashed through the sage-brush wildly at the air, and fell with a crash. Ca:loaded again, rode very near the prostrate beast,gave him another shot from the saddle. Buthuge body lay motionless. Then he knew thawas surely dead, and uttered a shout of trimwhich ma
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Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
