THE STORY OF THE BEAR. 



41 



several feet away. Looking up suddenly one of them saw a huge grizzly 

 bear coming toward them. The bear was so close that they did not have 

 time to seize their guns. Each climbed a small tree, and none too soon, for 

 one of them barely escaped being caught by the leg. 



When the bear found that his game had escaped he ran frantically from 

 one tree to another clawing at the trunk, but the trees were too small for him 

 to climb. He occasionally passed from one tree to another, but he never 

 wandered far enough away to give the men an opportunity to descend and 

 reach their guns in safety. 



Occasionally the brute clawed and toyed with the guns, as though won- 

 dering what they were, but he did not harm them by his manoeuvres. 



BROWN AND BLACK BEARS. 



The night that succeeded this adventure was quite bright and moonlight, 

 so that their colossal enemy was as plainly discernible as at noonday. 



The men were becoming thirsty, hungry, tired and cramped. It looked 

 like a regular three days' siege, which could only be a lingering torture to 

 those principally concerned. 



Towards m.idnight the more courageous of the two announced his inten- 

 tion of descending and making the attempt to recover his gun. 



"You can't do it," said the other; "the fellow is too sharp." 



"I have hope that we can outwit him." 



'T don't see how; it is no darker now than it was four hours ago, and he 

 Is just as wide awake as either of us." 



