METAPHYSICS OF BEAR HUNTING. 357 



he had ridden so close that pony, too, entering into the spirit 

 of the affair, was biting with great vigor at its haunches. 



Such a combination of assailants was too much for Bruin's 

 patience, and it wheeled so suddenly, that, before pony could 

 dodge, it had given him a wipe with his tremendous paws 

 which brought him to his knees. This unexpected stoppage, 

 of course, sent the Doctor vaulting over the head of his beast. 

 His dumpy figure looked so natural, so much like the old 

 trick, as it went sprawling through the air, that one universal 

 yell of laughter broke impulsively from every throat in spite 

 of the imminent peril of his predicament ! 



Happily for the Doctor, the pony, as the largest object, 

 distracted the attention of the bear from him for an instant, 

 and gave him time to regain his feet, and make for a low live 

 oak which stood near. Into this he mounted with inconceivable 

 nimbleness, but the bear was close at his heels. He ran out 

 upon a limb, but the inexorable monster still pursued. He 

 finally got out so far as the limb would sustain his weight, 

 and there he stood, swayed to and fro in the air, holding on 

 with one hand to the branches above him, while with the other 

 he was pushing away most vehemently at the bear's nose with 

 his spear, endeavoring to keep it at a respectful distance. This 

 arrangement Bruin did not seem to feel disposed to agree to, 

 but was cautiously and slowly pushing his way out on the 

 limb, for the purpose of making a closer acquaintance. To 

 complete the picture, pony was prancing, stamping his feet, 

 looking up into the tree and whining most furiously, as if 

 he fully appreciated his master's danger, and was eager to 

 get up to the rescue. 



The whole scene occupied but a few seconds. The foremost 

 of the party seeing the Doctor mount the tree, had gallopped 

 on, laughing, in pursuit of the other bears ; while we were 

 so much convulsed with merriment, that I verily believe the 

 creature might have eaten the poor fellow whole, before any 

 of us would have recovered sufficiently to shoot, but for the 



