Captives In The Wilderness

One night toward the end of April, Ellen was awakened by a loud noise.  She had been sleeping soundly and for a moment she could not identify the sound.  Then it came again, and there was no mistaking the origin.  The growls and snarls could only came from a bear!  There were ripping sounds as the bear attempted to reach the last of the elk meat hung just inside the door of the shed.  Ellen jumped from her bed and fumbled around in the darkness until she located the rifle above the door.  Making sure it was loaded with several shells, Ellen ran back to the door leading from the shed into the house.  She was afraid that if the bear succeeded in entering the shed, he would not stop, but make his way on into the house.  Amy was crying softly, as frightened as Ellen.  Whispering in Amy's ear,  Ellen told her to wrap herself in a blanket and go into the storeroom.

The crashing was getting louder and Ellen knew the bear had succeeded in entering the shed.  Peeking through the crack in the door she could see the outline of the bear's body silhouetted against the lighter darkness of the night outside.  She debated with herself whether or not to shoot.  She knew if she missed or did not hit a vital area, she would be worse off than ever because it would enrage the animal, and he would certainly come after them.

Suddenly, Flag attacked from the outside of the shed.  The space inside was small and the bear had trouble turning, so he backed out to face his adversary.  Ellen ran outside, and against Ellen's orders, Amy followed.  She had heard Flag barking, and had to see what was happening.

Ellen knew that Flag was no match for the bear and tried desperately to get a shot at the him, but he kept moving, and in the darkness she was afraid of hitting the dog.  Flag jumped for the bear's throat, then quickly darted away, dodging a great paw, as it tried to hurl him to the ground.  Finally, with a prayer in her heart, Ellen walked up as close as she dared, and put the barrel of the gun close to the back of the bear's head, but before she could  pull the trigger, the dog's teeth sank into the bear's throat and the bear's huge paw viciously, hurled the dog to the ground.  The bear got in one more mighty blow before the shot Ellen sent to his head ended the battle.  The great bear lowered his head, and swinging it from side to side, lumbered off toward the trees.  In seconds he had disappeared from sight in the darkness, leaving drops of blood to mark his path.  The impact of the shot knocked Ellen down and she sat where she had fallen not quite sure what had happened.