SUMMER RETllKAT IN ARKANSAS. 4o 



oue else was near cnouL^li to fir.^ \vith<.ut liittmg the 

 dogs. 



" Crivc him the knife ! " cried those at a distance. 



Bob Herring's long blade was already flashing in 

 his hand, but sticking a live bear is not child's play ; ho 

 was standing undecided, when he saw the hind legs of 

 Bose upwards : thrusting aside one or two of the dogs 

 with his hand, he made a pass at the bear's throat, but 

 the animal was so quick, that he struck the knife with 

 his fore paw, and sent it whirling into the cane ; another 

 was instantly handed Bob, which he thrust at the bear, 

 but the point was so blunt, that it would not penetrate 

 the skin. 



Foiled a third time, with a tremendous oath on him- 

 self, and the owner of a knife, " that wouldn't stick a 

 cabbage," he threw it indignantly from him, and seizing, 

 unceremoniously, a rifle, just then brought up by one of 

 the party, heretofore in the rear ; he, utterly regardless 

 of his own legs, thrust it against the side of the bear 

 with considerable force, and blowed liim through ; the 

 bear struggled but for a moment, and fell dead. 



" I saw snakes last night in my dreams," said Bob, 

 handing back the rifle to its owner — '' and I never had 

 any good luck the next day, arter sich a sarcumstance — 

 I call this hull hunt about as mean an aff'air as daiMj> 

 powder; that bar thar," pointing to the carcass, " that 

 bar thar ought to have been killed afore he maimed a 



•log." • . 



