OBOP LEAKN8 WISDOM. 225 



when he calculated he was a match for that bear, for, with 

 one cuff, the animal sent, him eend over eend down the bank, 

 upon the broken rocks below. ^But the little time that was 

 so occupied saved me a deal of trouble and danger, for it 

 lasted just long enough for me to bring my rifle into posi- 

 tion, which I did about the quickest, you may bet your life 

 on that. I run my eye along the barrel, sighted him be- 

 tween the eyes, and pulled. The bear keeled over onto his 

 back with a jerk, gave a spiteful kick with both hind feet, 

 and he, too, went over the ledge onto the sharp rocks below. 

 I looked over, and saw Crop staggerin' to his feet, and 

 lookin' about in a bewildered way, as if not quite under- 

 standin' how he came there. I went round a little way, 

 and got down into the gully where the animals were. I 

 found the bear stone dead, and Crop with two ribs broken 

 and his shoulder out of joint, whinin', and moaniu' piteously 

 with pain. I set his shoulder as well as I could, and, after 

 takin' the skin off the bear, I backed him two miles to my 

 shanty. It was a fortnight before he ' left the house,' but 

 he learned a little piece of wisdom by that cuff that sent 

 him down the bank, and got a little insight into the nater 

 of an angry bear." 



10* 



