202 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



the hill, and then turned off to the left into the thick 

 undercover. At this moment I heard the rush of the 

 bear going off, so got back on to the rocks of the 

 couloir. Arthur and I then spied each other across the 

 Gave, he being posted at the other side ; and I tried to 

 make out from him if he knew what had happened, and 

 from his signs I fancied that the bear was dead in the 

 Gave below, so went half-way down to see, but the place 

 was so thick and nasty I thought it better to beat a 

 retreat. After half an hour's more suspense old 

 Tambell's voice, barking angrily in the middle of the 

 thicket in front of me, put me on the alert, as I was 

 sure she had the bear. However, I stood, rifle on full 

 cock, on the lookout, not knowing at what moment I 

 might see her rush out towards me. After a bit, 

 evidently seeing she could make nothing of her ugly 

 customer, the old bitch came out to me, all her hair on 

 end. I could not stand it any longer, so went up with 

 Tambell to the place the bear had fallen, and followed 

 all the tracks, the dog keeping close, and just in front 

 of me. It was so thick that I had to go on my hands 

 and knees in places, and was proceeding in this fashion 

 when up got the bear close to me and rushed off helter- 

 skelter, but awfully sick. I blazed at her and crammed 

 in another cartridge, and fell on my head in my efforts 

 to follow her. Tambell was sticking close behind her, 

 almost walking when I last saw her. At this moment 

 I heard two shots, one from Arthur and one from the 

 men, from whom I heard cries of delight, and knew that 

 she was stopped. Getting to the place as fast as I 

 could, I came on a fine sight, the bear at bay in the 

 middle of the men and dogs, sitting on her tail and 

 looking round savagely. I went up within 5 yards 

 of her, and stood by, rifle on full cock, waiting. As 

 she seemed to get stronger, and I did not like the 



