136 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



now assail his enemy at every leap. He succeeded thus in wound- 

 ing him so badly that at length his attacks were discontinued, 

 and he finally disappeared in the dense forest. 



During the encounter, Smith had exerted his voice to the ut- 

 most to alarm the crew, who, he hoped, might be within hail. 

 He was heard, and in a short time several of the crew reached 

 the place, but not in time to save him from the dreadful encoun- 

 ter. The sight was truly appalling. His garments were not 

 only rent from him, but the flesh literally torn from his legs, 

 exposing even the bone and sinews. It was with the greatest 

 difficulty he made the descent of the tree. Exhausted through 

 loss of blood, and overcome by fright and exertion, he sunk upon 

 the ground and immediately fainted ; but the application of snow 

 restored him to consciousness. Preparing a litter from poles and 

 boughs, they conveyed him to the camp, washed and dressed his 

 wounds as well as circumstances would allow, and, as soon as 

 possible, removed him to the settlement, where medical aid was 

 secured. After a protracted period of confinement, he gradually 

 recovered from his wounds, though still carrying terrible scars, 

 and sustaining irreparable injury. Such desperate encounters 

 are, however, of rare occurrence, though collisions less sanguinary 

 are not unfrequent. 



On one occasion, we tracked one of those animals where we 

 had the day before been at work. From appearances, he seemed 

 to have something unusual attached to one of his fore feet, which 

 we judged to be a common steel trap. Returning to the camp 

 for the gun and a lunch, two men started in pursuit. They fol- 

 lowed him three days before overtaking him. In one place on 

 the route they measured a bound of fifteen feet, which he made 

 to take a rabbit, which he caught and devoured, leaving only 

 small portions of the hide and fur of his victim. From the course 

 traveled, it was evident that he was aware of his pursuers, whom 

 he unquestionably desired to avoid. On the third day they came 



