424 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



small chamber, he perceived the glaring eyeballs of the bear, had 

 taken steady aim, at them, and had, he believed, lodged. his bullets 

 fairly, Painful moanings were soon heard from within, and then all 

 was still! Again the bold man determined to seek the monster; 

 again he vanished, and his musket shot roared from the recesses of 

 the rock. Up he was whirled; but this time, the bear, streaming 

 with gore, and furious with pain, rushed after him, and with a mighty 

 bound, cleared the confines of the cavern ! A hasty and harmless 

 volley was fired, while the bear glared around as if undecided upon 

 which of the group to wreak his vengeance. Tom, the hunter, coolly 

 raised his piece, but snap ! no spark followed the blow of the hammer '- 

 With a curse Tom threw down the musket, and, drawing his knife, 

 rushed forward to encounter the bear single handed. What would 

 have been his fate had the bear folded him in his deadly hug, we 

 may be pretty sure ; but ere this could happen, the four bullets did 

 their work, and he fell ; a convulsive shudder passed through his 

 frame, and all was still. Six hundred odd pounds did he weigh, and 

 great were the rejoicings at his destruction. 



