30 FIGHT WITH A BEAK. 



that direction. Not five yards off stood the bear, 

 his upper lip curled up so as to show his tusks, 

 giving a fierce expression to his visage, denoting the 

 innate ferocity for which his family have a reputation. 

 In a moment I comprehended the situation, and 

 intuitively cocked both barrels, so that in an instant 

 my gun could be employed. Well it was that I 

 was thus prepared, for, with wonderful suddenness, 

 the aggressor reared himself on his hind legs, and 

 rushed upon me. There was no use in delaying 

 hostilities longer, so I aimed the right barrel at his 

 chest, and fired. With the report he staggered, 

 but only for an instant. In a moment more I should 

 have been within reach of his formidable claws, but 

 I took aim with the left barrel, and lodged its con- 

 tents in a vulnerable. spot. The foe, rearing himself 

 to his greatest height on his hind toes, and grasping 

 madly in the air with his fore feet, rushed forward, 

 as if the last impulse of his instinct was to annihilate 

 his slayer ; but he fell headlong, with his purpose 

 unfulfilled, within a yard of the camp-fire. 



Fearing the struggle was not over, I had dropped 

 my gun and drawn my revolver, which, with a sigh 

 of relief that its services were not wanted, I was now 

 able to replace. 



The whole affair had been so sudden and un- 

 expected, that, even while viewing the carcass, I could 

 not realise the exciting scene I had just gone 

 through. Daylight did not surprise me napping 

 or indulging in idle dreams that morning; I had 



