40 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUXTER, 



The bear was iu bis bed when the dogs first came 

 up with him, and did not leave it until the pack sur- 

 rounded him ; then finding things rather too warm, he 

 broke off with a " whew '' that was awful to hear. 



His course was towards us on the left, and as he 

 went by, the cane cracked and smashed as if rode over 

 by an insane locomotive. Bob Herring gave the dogs 

 a salute as they passed close at the beast's heels, and 

 the noise increased, until he said, " it sounded as if all 

 h-ll were pounding bark." 



The bear was commented on as he rushed by; one 

 said he was a " buster ; " "a regular-built eight year 

 old" said another; "fat as a candle," shouted a third; 

 — •' he's the beauty of Satan's Summer Betreat, with a 

 band of music after him," sang Bob Herring. 



Out of his lair the bear plunged so swiftly, that our 

 greatest exertions scarcely enabled us to keep within 

 hearing distance; his course carried him towards those 

 at the stands, he turned and exactly retraced his course, 

 but not with the same speed ; want of breath had several 

 times brought him to a stand, and a fight with the dogs. 

 He passed us the second time within two hundred yardsj 

 and coming against a fallen tree, backed up against it, 

 showing a determination, if necessary, there to die. 



We made our way towards the spot as fast as the 

 obstacles in our way would let us ; the hunters anxious 

 to dispatch him, that few dogs as possible might be 

 sacrificed. The few minutes necessary to accomplish 



