Lost And Saved; Or, Nellie Powers, The Missionary's Daughter.

it was a god-send Avhen I seed a deer Avot had got caught in the rapids a swimmin ' out towards the tree . I clum down to about where I thought he woidd strike it , ancl before he knowed wot was up I had him by the horns . I wasn't long in gettin' his venison cut and hung on the branches of the tree . Then I took some of his fat , a few dry leaves and dry limbs , made a fire in the crotch of the tree , and put the venison on to cook . By this time I had got clown to a low part of the country , which was flooded

with water , and any quantity of animals , what had got washed out of house ancl home , were floatin' in the water . 1 was now ready for a long voyage , and was just gettin ' ready for a good meal , when I saw a bear comin' towards the tree . As he came from the opposite side , I coidd not hinder him if I would . When he got fairly aboard he commenced lookin' about to see what he could see . Perhaps he was a little hungry ; at any rate , as soon as he smelt that venison coolnn' he made lively tracks over those

branches to where I was . Now you bet your plumduff I was in a ticklish position . I was on a limb of a tree in the middle of the Mississippi River , with nothing but a sheath knife in my belt and with a big hungry black bear makin' tracks for my venison , which woidd place him in a dangerous proximity to myself . Sometimes he was on the high branches in full view , ancl sometimes he was down on the low ones out of sight . Band bhe sihted me a little nor ' -westan' about two oints off his starboard boAv .

y y g , p He hove to for a minute , ancl took a look at me , then becomin' satisfied that I was the craft within hailin' distance , he opened a broadside of growls , as much as to say , ' Lay to and haul doivn your colours , or I'll sink you . ' Now , shipmates , I couldn't get away , ancl I had no idea of partin' with my meat , for I didn't know when I'd get any more .

The bear seemed to be of about the same opinion , an' he came tumbling along so fast that he almost shook me ancl the meat off the tree together . I made up my mind that by rights that meat was mine , and I meant to keep it , but I couldn't just tell how . I wasn't long in makin' up my mind that two of us couldn't flourish on that craft , so I broke off a long limb and began poundin' him with it . He didn't seem to mind that much , but came along as sanctimonious as a deacon , ancl looked at me as much as to

say , ' Wait till I get my chance , and I'll pay you off . ' I seed I ivasn't goin' to get rid of him in that way , so when he got alongside I took a handful of the fine coals and dust from the fire ancl threw it in his eyes . This seemed to fix him for a minute , for he stopped , and , liftin' his front paws , began rnbbin' his eyes . Says I , ' now ' s your time , Watson , ' and I gave the limb a shake , ancl down He tumbled among the branches . Before he got ready to come up again I had fastened my sheath knife with my belt to the

long stick , ancl every time he came up I stuck it into him , and made him drop back howlin' with rage . By keepin' this up for a little while I drew enough of his blood to make him weak . Each time he was longer in gettin' up , but he stuck to it like a pirate , until I gave him a finisher under the chin ivhich made him keel over on his beam ' s end . Now when I was settled and provisioned for the rest of my cruise , Avhat should come along but a steamertoivin' flatboatThey took ' aboard

, a my - . me , but I was disgusted with those latitudes , and went doivn to New Orleans with the steamer , expectin' when I got there to sell the boat ancl go to sea . I shipped ancl went to sea , but I didn't sell the boat ; ' cause why ? I went to look for it where I left it snug and sure , when I found that somebody , who wanted it more than I did , had took it ancl cleared . "

" Perhaps it was the man you borrowed it of , " suggested Peter , "It was not , 'cause I paid a round hundred dollars for it , what I get trappin' on the border line of British America , along of Rollickin' Tim Doolan . " " Eight bells there , for ' ard , " shouted the mate , interrupting the story t . Hers . The ffien exchanged places with the new watch and went below . ( 'To be continued . ' )