196 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



I broiled a fine steak over the coals, and, in addition, 

 with my meal I had cranberry sauce, fried potatoes and 

 warm biscuits. As I had eaten no dinner, I did each dish 

 full justice. I then attempted to spend a quiet hour in read- 

 ing by the fire, but beavers splashing the water and the run- 

 ning of deer kept me constantly on the alert, however much 

 I tried to disregard them. At ten o'clock I spread my bed 

 in the skiff and laid down to pleasant dreams, with no fear 

 of danger. 



Before the sun had risen, I was awakened by a great 

 noise in the bushes, and, on looking out, saw a bear with the 

 forequarters of my fawn. Nothing so enrages me as to be- 

 hold the impudent manner in which this animal invariably 

 pounces upon and carries off another's property. I gave 

 him a shot near the heart, and my best wishes went with it. 

 He started to run. I gave him another in the hind parts ; 

 then he reared* roared, and tore up the bushes in his path 

 as far as I could see him. 



Concluding that he could not live to make so free with 

 another's property, I lay down and took another nap. After 

 I had arisen, five deer came bounding past ; and I caught up 

 my gun through force of habit, but, reflecting that I had 

 no room for more meat nor time to attend to it, I allowed 

 them to pass unmolested, and made another start toward my 

 destination. 



At the lower end of the island I discovered an object 

 which, as I approached, grew larger and larger, but it was 

 not until I was very close that I saw it was the bear I had 

 shot in the morning, lying with his legs straight up in the 

 air, his countenance wearing that look of ferocity habitual 

 to the grizzly, even in death. Leaving him to the mercy of 

 wild beasts, I pushed on to the Yellowstone. Wild geese 

 and ducks frequently came very close, but, as time was pre- 

 cious, I gave them no heed. 



