My First Summer 



who always carried a gun loaded with buck- 

 shot, fired excitedly, threw down his gun, 

 fled to the nearest suitable tree, and climbed 

 to a safe height without waiting to see the 

 effect of his shot. His companion also ran, 

 but said that he saw the bear rise on its hind 

 legs and throw out its arms as if feeling for 

 somebody, and then go into the brush as if 

 wounded. 



At another of their camps in this neigh- 

 borhood, a bear with two cubs attacked the 

 flock before sunset, just as they were ap- 

 proaching the corral. Joe promptly climbed 

 a tree out of danger, while Antone, rebuking 

 his companion for cowardice in abandoning 

 his charge, said that he was not going to 

 let bears " eat up his sheeps ' in daylight, 

 and rushed towards the bears, shouting and 

 setting his dog on them. The frightened 

 cubs climbed a tree, but the mother ran to 

 meet the shepherd and seemed anxious to 

 fight. Antone stood astonished for a mo- 

 ment, eyeing the oncoming bear, then 



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