124 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



"boat, and singing out " red devils, look out below," 

 fired. The bear leaped entirely out of the water, fell 

 upon his back, and after a convulsive kick or two, float- 

 ed lifelessly upon the water. 



This exploit of the white man, so sudden and unex- 

 pected, was greeted by a loud shout from all parties. 



' You see," said the hunter, as he coolly laid down 

 his rifle — " you see the bear has a feeling, strangers, and 

 whar is the use in tormenting the varmint ? my old 

 shooting iron never misses, but if it had hit a red-skin 

 by accident, I should not have been ashamed of the shot 

 — for the bear is the best Christian of the two, and a 

 parfect gentleman, compared with the best copper-skin 

 that ever breathed." 



The Indians in the water at the last shot expressed 

 a significant " ugh," and approaching the bear, gave him 

 repeated thrusts with their knives, which showed that 

 they thought him a hard-lived and dangerous animal. 

 In a few minutes they recovered their canoe, and were 

 towing the dead carcass ashore. 



Fifty' Indians at least now threw their blankets aside, 

 and leaping into the water, swam after the bear. The 

 tearing off of the huge skin, and jerking the meat, was 

 dispatched so rapidly, that it indicated an accustomed 

 work. 



This little incident relieved the monotony, of all 

 others the most disagreeable — that of being aground in 

 the Mississippi, and the hours of labor which were spent 



