A NOVEL SLEEPING-ROOM. 303 



it led me out of my way. Meantime it began to rain 

 lumler, and corning to a broad stream, which the 

 bear had crossed, my dog lost the trail. As it was too 

 late to return to the camp, I considered myself lucky 

 in finding a cave, two feet deep in leaves driven in by 

 the wind. Without making a fire, which would have 

 been dangerous, I crept in, taking Bearsgrea.se for a 

 pillow, who was much pleased thereby, and, spite of 

 wet clothes, I slept well till morning, covered up with 

 the leaves. 



The morning was cold and wet, my clothes were still 

 damp from yesterday's rain, and I was as hungry as a 

 lion ; so altogether I did not leel quite so comfortable 

 as I could wish. But walking quick to warm myself, 

 in about an hour's time I reached the place where I 

 had left the two deer, hung the fawn over my shoulders, 

 and not long after gained the camp. 



The fire was burning bright which C. had only 

 lately left, and it was no small quantity of venison 

 that I put down to roast. Having appeased my 

 appi'tite, and fed Bearsgrease, I laid down again to 

 rest. After an hour's time, as C. did not return, I set 

 off again ; it was still very cold. As I was passing a 

 small ravine I saw a young buck feeding, without the 

 slightest suspicion of danger. As I was within dis- 

 tance, I aimed and fired ; he, fell as if shot through the 

 brain, but my ball had struck too high, so that at the 

 moment when I came up to seize him lie recovered 

 himself, and rose on his forelegs. I saw on the instant 

 that there was no time to lose, and threw myself upon 

 him. The dog had also sei/ed him, and I was in the 

 act of drawing my knife, to plunge in his throat, when 



