A BEAR KILLED. I75 



and had abundant cause to rejoice at havinc 

 done so ; for the whole distance to the mountains 

 appeared to be an unbroken succession of rapids, 

 which must have stopped us; for, whether pass- 

 able or not in a boat, they were evidently imprac- 

 ticable for a canoe. The mosquitos, and their 

 confederates the sand-flies, had of late nearly 

 disappeared, or, if a few still buzzed about, they 

 were too torpid to give much annoyance, while 

 the memory of their past injuries, with the pre- 

 sent sense of security, had given occasion to 

 many a jest: but our merriment was now inter- 

 rupted by the unrelenting attacks of increased 

 swarms of the latter, whose more southerly abode 

 had preserved them in the enjoyment of robust 

 and vigorous health. The persecution of these 

 venomous insects, and the badness of the route, 

 occasioned frequent halts ; in one of which a 

 solitary bear caught the ever-watchful sight of 

 the Indian ; and, instantly seizing a gun, he went 

 with De Charloit in pursuit. 



The rock and valley favoured their approach ; 

 and, though Bruin was on the look out, and, 

 raising himself on his hind legs, stretched out 

 his neck, with a sort of waltzing motion, sniffing 

 the wind suspiciously, all his care was ineffec- 

 tual — in ten minutes he was lying dead, at 

 the foot of the precipice over which he rolled 

 as he fell. Maufelly immediately ran to some 



