File:Spirit Lake (1907) (14777205684).jpg

Identifier: spiritlake00hemiuoft (find matches)
Title: Spirit Lake
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Heming, Arthur, 1871-1940
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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with my hands tightlygripping my knife, I landed on the steepincline and struck the blade deeply into thegiving clay. Down, down I went, twenty 154 SPIRIT LAKE man-lengths or more, before the blade foundresistance enough to check my fall. Thebear, in blind rage, sprang after me andcame slipping down the slope just clearof me. With all its might it clutched at theslippery bank; but to no purpose, for everyhold gave way. About half-way down,where the bank became more nearly per-pendicular, it altogether lost its grip andwhirled head-over-heels. Bounding like aball, it shot out into space, and droppedamong the tangled willows that grew on thecoulee bottom. I glanced down to see howthe foolish beast was faring. I saw it awaydown below slowly raise its head and peepup at me. Looking above, I discovered theother bear. The Mischief Maker, peering overthe treacherous brink. With an active bear above and a woundedone below, my better chance was graduallyto slide down to the bottom. My greatest
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•With all its might it clutched at the slippery bank. THE BUFFALO SPIRIT 155 danger lay in the too hasty realization of myonly desire. To rest my aching arms, Itried, one foot at a time, to kick toe-holes inthe sun-baked bank. But in vain; I woreaway my moccasins endeavoring to scrapea niche to give my feet some purchase. Howlong I had been hanging there, I could notremember; but my weary arms tried topersuade me that it must have been forcountless days. I slightly tilted the knife-blade to ease its hold in the tough clay,and in little jerky slides dropped somedistance down. Then, at last, the toe ofmy moccasin touched a tiny ledge and gaineda doubtful foothold. In that position Idecided to rest my arms alternately. Stillgrasping with one hand the embedded knife,I slowly withdrew the other hand and al-lowed the bulk of my weight to rest uponthe slight footing I had gained. The tinyledge crumbled instantly away, and my full 156 SPIRIT LAKE weight fell upon the arm that held the knife

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