BRUIN'S HANDIWORK. 335 



motion of the canoe disconcerted him, for his ball 

 only grazed the apex of the bear's skull. 



But that was sufficient to stir up his wrath. In 

 an instant he turned upon his back, and before I 

 could clear the * birch-bark ' from his vicinity, he was 

 under our counter. A chance to shoot was thus 

 refused me, but my regret was short-lived, an 

 immense paw made its appearance over the bulwark, 

 and in a moment after I was, gun in hand, struggling 

 in the water. The canoe turned upside down, with 

 my companion hanging to it. Bruin appeared as 

 much astonished at the consequence of his handi- 

 work as we were disgusted, for, either frightened or 

 satisfied at the result, with rapid stroke he pursued 

 his former course. My first anxiety was for the old 

 man, but I, found that was unnecessary, as there was 

 evidently sufficient buoyancy in our craft to float him. 

 That weight being off my mind, I made for shore. 

 When nearly accomplishing my purpose I got into a 

 rapid, which, with almost crushing strength, dashed 

 me against a rock. My gun I instinctively pushed 

 forward to save me. Doubtless it did to some extent, 

 but the price of the service rendered by it was a 

 heavy one, for my faithful and well-tried ' Dougall/ 

 the gun that had never for a moment failed me, got 

 broken across the small of the stock. 



More dead than alive and almost drowned, I at 

 length succeed in clambering on shore, and dripping 

 wet, numbed from the coldness of the northern 

 stream, my arms destroyed, and my ammunition lost, 



