130 PRAIBIE ANP FOREST. 



liking my appearance turned to make off, but the 

 brave little cur was at his heels, and as I cheered him 

 to the attack, he never lost an opportunity of pinching 

 Bruin's stern, who at length treed to avoid the perse- 

 cuting little pest which hung in his rear, the most de- 

 sirable course for me he could have adopted. By the 

 time I reached the spot the enemy had gained the first 

 fork, not twenty feet overhead, and is it to be wondered 

 at that at such a short range, with not a twig to inter- 

 vene, and with a clear view of the quarry's shoulder, one 

 barrel brought him to the ground with no more action 

 in his carcase than the usual death struggle ? My trophy 

 was not large but well fed, and his hams afforded me 

 for many a subsequent morning a bonne bouche worthy 

 of a hunter. 



But poor little Prince got into trouble before he 

 reached home. As I struck the margin of a river 

 which lay in my route, I observed a large bald-headed 

 eagle sailing about. Keeping under the shelter of 

 some brush, I waited for a chance. My right-hand 

 barrel I had reloaded with heavy shot, and, as the bird 

 passed about seventy yards off, I gave him a portion of 

 its contents, which was responded to by his imme- 

 diately reaching the ground with a broken wing. 

 Prince, plucky with the issue of his late engagement, 

 made a dash at the bird, but caught a Tartar, for he 

 was seized by both talons, and, but that I came to the 

 rescue, would have been rendered useless for any other 

 purpose than baiting a wolf trap. As it was, after I 

 had killed the bird I had some difficulty in unloosening 

 its claws, and I doubt if my faithful little mongrel had 

 lived to the age of Methuselah, he ever would have 

 been induced to tackle another eagle. 



