Old Ephraim 347 



so much as fire his rifle. It broke in his skull with 

 a blow of its great paw, and then seized his arm in 

 its jaws, biting through and through in three places, 

 but leaving the body and retreating into the bushes 

 as soon as the unfortunate man's companion ap- 

 proached. We did not hear of the accident until 

 too late to go after the bear, as we were just about 

 starting to join the spring round-up. 



