60 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



them file out one by one from the timber on the 

 way to where I stood. A low whistle sent their 

 heads up, and a few hurried words explained the 

 state of affairs to old S., who was to keep the 

 train at his end of the thicket, and, if possible, 

 turn the bear in my direction. The first shout 

 roused the bear, who strolled out on to the 

 moraine opposite to me with the greatest non- 

 chalance, and was, I think, going to sit down to 

 have a better look at us, when a bullet from my 

 express caught him in the ribs and rolled him 

 over. I was on the horns of a regular dilemma 

 when the bear broke covert. If I dismounted 

 I could not see to shoot over the bushes, whereas, 

 if I fired from the saddle, S. warned me that the 

 young mare was not ' bridle-wise,' not used to 

 having shots fired, and would buck me down the 

 canon to eternity. Reflecting that, at any rate, 

 if bucked into eternity I should at least be safe 

 from the bear, I dropped the bridle on the mare's 

 neck, and turning round in the saddle, took a 

 good steady shot at him. The moment he felt 

 the lead he dropped, and then came round with 

 a snarl which sounded like mischief. But the 

 gallant little mare stood firm as a rock, enabling 

 me to put another bullet in, which frustrated any 

 amiable intentions our friend may have had, and 

 compelled him to lie down. The men gave a 



