MINTER'S FIGHT WITH THE BEAR. < 33 



him on his head with the rifle with all his might, producing 

 no other effect than shivering his rifle all to pieces. Too late 

 then to escape, he drew his big knife from its sheath and 

 made plunge a at his heart, but old Bruin, by a stroke of his 

 paw, whirled the knife into the air, and enfolding its weapon- 

 less owner with his huge arms, both rolled on the ground. 

 A fearful struggle then ensued between the combatants : one 

 ruled by unvarying instinct, and the other guided by the dic- 

 tates of reason. The former depended wholly upon hugging 

 his adversary to death, while the latter aimed at presenting his 

 body in such positions as would best enable him to withstand 

 the vice-like squeeze till he could loosen the grasp. He was 

 about six feet in height, possessing large bones and well de- 

 veloped muscles, and being properly proportioned, was very 

 athletic. 



The woods were perfectly open and clear of underbrush, and 

 in their struggle they rolled in every direction. Several 

 times he thought the severity of the hug would finish him ; 

 but by choking the bear, he would compel him to release his 

 hold, to knock off his hands, when he would recover his breath 

 and gain a better position. After maintaining the contest in 

 this way for several hours, they, happily for him, rolled back 

 near where his knife lay, which inspired him with buoyant 

 hope, but he had to make many ineffectual efforts before he 

 could tumble the bear w r ithin reach of it. Having finally re- 

 covered it, he stabbed him at every chance till he at last bled 

 to death, only relaxing his hold when life became extinct. 

 He attempted to get up, but was too much exhausted, and 

 crawling to a log, against which he leaned, his heart sickened 

 as he contemplated the scene. Not a rag was left on him, 

 and over his back, arms, and legs, his flesh was lacerated to 

 the bones by the claws of the bear. By crawling and walk- 

 ing, he reached home after night, with no other covering than 

 a gore of blood from head to foot. His friends, who went 

 out the next morning to survey the ground and bring in the 



