ON THE PRA1K 



it struck the dry soil, so that I could keep 

 correcting my aim; and the fourth ball 

 crashed into the old bear's flank. She lurched 

 heavily forward, but recovered herself and 

 reached the timber, while Merrifield, who had 

 put on a spurt, was not far behind. 



I toiled up the hill at a sort of trot, fairly 

 gasping and sobbing for breath ; but before 

 I got to the top I heard a couple of shots 

 and a shout. The old bear had turned as 

 soon as she was in the timber, and came to- 

 wards Merrifield, but he gave her the death 

 wound by firing into her chest, and then 

 shot at the young one, knocking it over. 

 When I came up he was just walking to- 

 wards the latter to finish it with the re- 

 volver, but it suddenly jumped up as lively 

 as ever and made off at a great pace for it 

 was nearly full-grown. It was impossible to 

 fire where the tree trunks were so thick, 

 but there was a small opening across which 

 it would have to pass, and collecting all my 

 energies I made a last run, got into posi- 

 tion, and covered the opening with my ritlc. 



