THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 225 



before he had made up his mind to attack me. To 

 avail myself of this poor chance, however, it was 

 absolutely necessary for me to keep awake, which 

 was not very easy, for I was weighed down with 

 fatigue, not having slept for thirty-six hours, or 

 eaten anytliing for twenty-four. The balmy fresh- 

 ness of the night, too, after the heat of the day, 

 seemed to invite me to repose. A profound quiet 

 reigned all around, and I had the greatest difficulty 

 in keeping my eyes open. 



" From time to time I felt myself giving way, 

 and then roused myself with a feeling of dread that 

 the bear was about to rush upon me. I felt as if 

 I were in a condemned cell, and was to be exe- 

 cuted next morning, for I was certain that with 

 the morrow's dawn the bear's appetite would 

 return. 



" Two or three hours after night had set; in, I 

 could hear the noises of the wild animals going 

 towards the watering-place. Some of them seemed 

 to pass close to us, but I could not see them. The 

 bear, however, could evidently see them, for he raised 

 his head and looked at them as they went by. I 

 had now abandoned all hope that he would leave me, 

 and I had resolved what to do in the last extremity, 

 when he made . his attack. I held my rifle in my 

 left hand, and wound my handkerchief round the 

 right, determined that when the creature made his 

 final rush, I would thrust the barrel across his j.iws 



VOL. I, Q 



