20 



THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



then retreated back into the top of the beech and immedi 

 ately reloaded. While doing this, the bear and the two cubs 

 came out of the hollow of the tree. At this moment one of 

 those below fired, but being much agitated, he missed. This 

 person, in his precipitation broke his ramrod, and likewise 

 his knuckles, and could not get his bullet down. He thought 

 all was over with Merritt, and jumped around, crying out, 

 "You are gone, Ick, you are gone, Ick !" which Ick 

 never heeded, but calmly reloaded. The cubs took to a limb, 

 while the old bear made towards Merritt. She was in a 

 menacing attitude and but a few feet above him when he 

 made a second fire. This proved fatal and the bear fell. In 

 falling she just brushed against him. Another hunter now 

 coming up, shot one of the cubs, and Merritt at his leisure 

 reloaded and shot the other. He then succeeded in getting 

 safely to the ground. 



