272 A BEAR BROUGHT DOWN. 



" I declare," exclaimed Gaultier, " he's coming across ! 

 Let us hide." 



Both the young men accordingly crawled behind a 

 bush and watched with interest the progress of the 

 animal, which had plunged into the river and was now 

 swimming with powerful strokes towards them. 



" He'll land within ten yards of us," whispered 

 Pierre ; " don't fire till he comes ashore, and then blaze 

 at him." 



Gaultier nodded assent. In a few moments the bear 

 raised his dripping form from the water, and stood 

 directly before the hunters. At this instant both fired 

 together ; and as the smoke cleared away, the bear was 

 observed lying lifeless by the edge of the water. 

 Pierre's bullet had pierced its skull, while Gaultier 's had 

 penetrated the neck, severing the spine in its passage. 



" It is lucky," said Gaultier, " that we encountered 

 this fellow so near camp. I would not have liked to 

 have had his hide to carry much further, as our other 

 loads are quite enough." 



The two hunters set about skinning the bear, which 

 operation they performed in a very few minutes. 

 They then shouldered their loads and set out for camp, 

 which they reached without any further adventure. 



Jake had been expecting their return, and had the 

 forethought to prepare a good broil of venison ribs ; to 

 which the hungry trappers did ample justice. 



When they had satisfied their appetites and reclined 

 on the grass near the fire, Gaultier proposed that Pierre 



