MY FIEST BEAR. 151 



self- satisfied I broke into the bush on my homeward route; 

 the weight of the game told heavily on my shoulders. 

 When half of the journey (which I had long wished had 

 teen the whole) was reached, I heard a rustling in the 

 brush, evidently caused by large game. Such a warning 

 instantly aroused me, and, on the alert for further sport, I 

 took all the surrounding visible objects in at a glance. In 

 front was a bear. A monster to my vision he appeared, for 

 I was uninitiated at that time and I believe the eye has a 

 trick in dealing in the marvellous with unaccustomed 

 objects and, to my horror, Bruin was coming directly 

 towards me. My first feeling was to fly ; next, to ascend 

 a tree ; thirdly, to disappear into my boots. The second 

 glance gave me more assurance. Mr. Bear was evidently 

 on urgent private affairs ; his whole manner bespoke this ; 

 .and he did not see me ; so I determined to stand still, 

 hoping he would remain ignorant of my presence, or, at 

 least, give me a fair show, if compelled to fight. Onward 

 advanced Bruin ; closer and closer he came, and the nearer 

 he approached the farther my heart came into my mouth. 

 Still he was fifty yards off, and had plenty of time to change 

 his course ; but no such change took place ; for if he had 

 been a ball bowled at a wicket the precision of his course 

 could not have been truer. Twenty yards could not have 

 intervened between us when my presence became known, 

 and the manner of welcome I received was far from 

 encouraging, for he halted, sniffed in the air, and gave 

 an angry growl. I wished myself at home in bed, or at the 

 antipodes, or in any place but my present standpoint. For 

 .remember, reader, my gun was only loaded with duck shot ; 



