316 A TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER. 



turned on its new aggressor; but old Jake kept his 

 seat despite its utmost efforts to dislodge him. Blood 

 poured in streams from the wounds inflicted by the 

 hunter's blade, and dyed the ground at the scene of the 

 struggle. 



While the bear's attention was centred in old Jake, 

 Gaultier scrambled from underneath the animal's legs ; 

 but overcome by a sudden faintness he reeled forward, 

 and would have fallen had not Pierre caught him in 

 his arms. 



Finding that he was getting the worst of the en- 

 counter, the bear now made an effort to escape; but 

 Jake stuck to his seat manfully, and fairly rode the 

 terrified animal off the ground, stabbing him as he 

 went. For fully fifty yards did the wretched beast 

 survive to carry his fatal rider. At length the trapper's 

 knife, directed with more judgment, found a vital spot, 

 and the bear fell dead. 



Jake immediately returned to the spot where Pierre 

 sat supporting Gaultier. He procured some water from 

 the river, and bathed the face and temples of the young 

 hunter, who soon regained his consciousness. An ex- 

 amination showed that he had suffered no injury of a 

 serious nature. As soon as his comrades were relieved 

 of any anxiety on this score, they proceeded to examine 

 the dead animal. The carcass was covered with blood, 

 which still trickled from not less than fifty wounds, 

 inflicted by the old trapper's knife. The hide was 

 valueless ; but old Jake observed, " The varmint's hams 



