138 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



grabbed it with a snarl and broke it off, carrying the tor- 

 pedo with her. A growl from her, an oath from Steward, 

 commenced the circus. The torpedo burst, making the 

 earth tremble. The bear and a thick volume of smoke si- 

 multaneously shot out of the earth, and Steward, who had not 

 had time to get out of the way, was knocked down by the 

 bear and rolled down hill with her. The bear, her hair 

 scorched almost off, took no notice of Steward, but kept 

 on, going up the opposite bank, and I thought I would never 

 be able to shoot for laughter. Steward went one way* and his 

 hat another. There he lay, looking as though he might have 

 fallen from the clouds. I pulled myself together with an 

 effort and sent a ball after the bear. She gave a roar, caught 

 at her ham with her mouth, and came trembling and growl- 

 ing down the hill. I called to Steward that she was coming. 

 It was a sight to see him recover himself and get out of the 

 way. Bare-headed and with no gun, he came hopping up 

 the bank. It was more than my gravity could resist. He 

 grabbed my gun and rushed down to within thirty feet of 

 her, and continued firing until the shells were all gone and 

 her head was in pieces. Not satisfied with this, he took out 

 his knife and disemboweled her on the spot. 



"Now," he yelled triumphantly, "take the shoulders 

 next time and leave the hams, if you don't want to git into 

 trouble." 



He was blind with rage, and swore he did not know 

 whether the bear had ran against him, or whether the pow- 

 der had blown him down hill. 



"I believe I blew her clean out of the earth. I never 

 saw her come out," he said. 



"But what took you down hill so fast?" I asked. 



"I give it up. She must have run agin me," was the 

 old man's reply. 



