28 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



dog which acompanied us ran to the place and commenced 

 barking quite freely. I hastened to see what the dog had 

 discovered, and, springing upon the fallen tree, and looking 

 over it, I discovered, a large bear, snugly enconsed in his den, 

 within six feet of where I stood, staring at me with no very 

 pleasant countenance, which induced me to retreat in double- 

 quick time ; but finding I was not pursued, I halted when 1 

 reached the compass that I had left standing. 



The chainman and marker hastened up, and inquired what 

 was the cause of my running so fast ? Upon informing them 

 that I had found a bear, they accompanied me back to the 

 log, which we all mounted and had a fair view of him in his 

 den, while he calmly returned our gaze, without showing any 

 sign of either fear or hostility ; supposing, no doubt, that his 

 den was impregnable, as the tree in falling had raised several 

 cart-loads of earth on it roots, which time had settled in the 

 shape of a regular mound ; under which he had excavated 

 a cavern several feet in depth, sufficiently large to turn round 

 in, and to lodge comfortably. 



A council of war was held forthwith to devise a plan for 

 attacking Bruin, One, proposed by John Stinson, was with 

 the marker's tomahawk and my steel-pointed Jacob staff; but 

 William Stinson, the oldest and most experienced hunter of 

 the party, objected, saying, that from his great size and 

 strength, if the bear was insulted with such puny weapons, 

 he would certainly be the death of some of us ; and this 

 plan was abandoned by common consent. What then was 

 to be done ? To leave him undisturbed in his nest was not 

 to be thought of by old hunters. After further hurried con- 

 sultation, it was agreed that John should go home for his gun 

 and dogs, while the rest remained to keep watch over Bruin's 

 movements. 



Accordingly, John set off at a long trot, while we who re- 

 mained kindled a fire and patiently waited for his return. In 

 about an hour he gave notice of his approach by a shout, 



