TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 65 



readiness. Bruin arrived some seconds before we 

 expected him, and we dashed practically into his way. 

 We were considerably taken aback at the finesse of 

 the creature. More I must not say, or I shall remind 

 you of that American fugitive who called out to the 

 officer who attempted to rally the regiment, " For 

 heaven's sake, don't try to stop me; I am so fearfully 

 demoralized." 



The bear must have galloped the instant we lost 

 sight of him, perhaps even, he had some premonition 

 of the threatening danger. On seeing us scattering 

 to right and left the bear, who seemed absolutely 

 enormous to my untrained gaze, stiffened all over, 

 and his little eyes grew oblique with rage. He 

 appeared to pull up almost on to his haunches. Cecily 

 and I fired simultaneously, and at such close quarters 

 that both shots were bound to be effective. With an 

 extraordinary noise, half groan, half rage, the beast 

 rose on hind feet, appearing to tower high above us, 

 his wide head and massive neck turning from side to 

 side. Like all the fiends he laid about him with great 

 quivering arms, striking the air with weighty blows, 

 helpless, a Samson shorn of his wondrous strength ; 

 and even as he strove to avenge the manner of his 

 death the bullets did their work. With a lurch forward 

 the vast creature tottered, righted himself erect once 

 more, and then fell on his face with a dull, resound- 

 ing crash. An awe-inspiring and impressive sight. 



We did not approach the prostrate heap for some 

 time. Many a man has met his end by investigating 

 a supposed dead Alaskan bear. 



F 



