THE ENCOUNTER. 45 



between her rising anger against the hunter and her 

 maternal solicitude for the safety of her progeny. She 

 would rush forward a few steps, showing her teeth and 

 growling ferociously; and then, turning to her cubs, she 

 would apparently endeavour to induce them to retreat 

 to the shelter of the woods, accompanying them a little 

 way herself. She would then suddenly turn round, 

 and bound forward towards Pierre, uttering savage 

 snarls. The dim light, combined with the quick move- 

 ments of the beast and her dark colour, which rendered 

 her extremely indistinct, prevented Pierre from taking 

 a certain aim. 



He therefore advanced quickly with his rifle at his 

 shoulder, with the intention of firing at close quarters, 

 and ending the contest with one shot. The bear, 

 nothing daunted by the boldness of the hunter, rushed 

 to meet him. Pierre took a hasty aim and pulled the 

 trigger. No report followed. Before he could throw 

 down the lever of his rifle the savage beast was on 

 him. With a blow of its paw it sent the rifle flying 

 from the hunter's grasp, and immediately closed with 

 him, hardly giving him time to draw his knife ! 



Embraced in a deadly hug, with the shining teeth 

 of the monster at his face, Pierre gave himself up for 

 lost. He did not, however, lose his presence of mind, 

 but fought madly on, plunging his knife into the side 

 of his antagonist, and trying to keep his feet. Sud- 

 denly he stumbled over a root, and in a moment lay 

 on his back with the bear above, its eyes glaring into 



