226 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



and then my band and arm into his throat. Of 

 course, I did not expect to escape in this manner, 

 but I was determined not to give in without a 

 struggle, or, at any rate, trying to do my enemy as 

 much mischief as I could. 



" Presently, the bear got up with a savage growl, 

 and I thought that the moment had arrived. 

 However, he stood still, growling furiously, and 

 looking over my head, until I began to think that 

 another animal of the same kind might be crawling 

 up behind me, and that my bear was objecting to 

 a division of the spoil. Whatever it was, he seemed 

 quite uncertain what to do, until, apparently making* 

 up his mind, he prepared to spring — when suddenly 

 there came from behind me a fearful howl, and 

 the neighbourhood was lit up by an unexpected 

 flame. The howling lasted for a minute or two, and 

 then a human form, apparently all on fire, leapt 

 into the space between me and the bear. On this, 

 the creature gave a terrible cry of fear rather 

 than of rage, and, with a bound, disappeared in 

 the darkness. Then it was that I recognised 

 Sambo, who held around him some branches of 

 trees which he had lighted, and was waving about 

 franticall}^, leaping and howling in the most fren- 

 zied manner, looking far more like a devil than the 

 guardian angel that he really was to me. He was 

 so terrified himself, however, that he could scarcely 

 find strength to cry, ' Load your gun, massa, load 



