"A BEAR! A BEAR!" 315 



top of the slope running towards the camp as fast as 

 his long lean legs could carry him. 



As he came he shouted, " A b'ar ! a b'ar ! Git yer 

 shootin'-sticks ; he's arter me ! " And in truth the 

 young men at that moment observed a bear of the 

 brown variety appear in hot pursuit, lumbering after 

 the trapper at a kind of cow gallop. Jake no sooner 

 reached the camp than he placed himself in rear of his 

 comrades, when he used the utmost despatch in the 

 loading of his rifle. 



Meanwhile the bear, on seeing three enemies where 

 he had only looked for one, came to a halt, and seemed 

 to be considering the situation. His uncertainty, how- 

 ever, was soon dispelled, for he came forward uttering 

 savage growls, but again halted when only some thirty 

 yards distant. At this instant Pierre and Gaultier 

 levelled their rifles and fired. Before they could see 

 the effects of the shots the bear was in their midst, and 

 with a loud snarling roar seized Gaultier in 'his deadly 

 embrace ! 



The young trapper's rifle was dashed from his hands, 

 and he himself thrown to the ground, while the in- 

 furiated beast attempted to seize his face in his mouth ! 

 Throwing down his rifle, which he was afraid to use, 

 so confused were the motions of the bear and its strug- 

 gling victim, old Jake drew his shining bowie, and 

 leaping forward got astride of the bear, and fastening 

 one hand in its shaggy hair, drove his sharp knife home 

 repeatedly with the other. The maddened animal 



