136 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



into life. The sparks flew up and the flames ran over the dry 

 moss toward him. Now there was added the dread of being 

 burnt alive. But he worked his feet violently and succeeded 

 in roughening the ground sufficiently to turn the fire so that 

 it passed on either side of him, and though it continued beyond 

 the wooden trap, eventually died down. 



Then he went on with his cutting, but night came on before 

 he had dug into the log more than a few inches. Growing 

 faint, he rested awhile, and later fell asleep. When he awoke, 

 he discovered a full-grown black bear sitting upon its haunches 

 watching him. He shouted to drive the beast away, but, 

 strange to say, the noise did not frighten the bear, for several 

 times it got up and attempted to reach the syrup on the trap. 

 When the captive renewed his shouting and kicking, the bear 

 merely stepped back, sat down, and persisted in maintaining 

 its fearsome watch all night. Nevertheless, the half-breed was 

 afraid to stop shouting, so he kept it up at intervals all night 

 long. When, however, dawn came, the bear went away. 



At sunrise Marasty renewed his efforts to escape, and though 

 his hand was now blistered and sore, he worked for several 

 hours. Then thirst attacked him; and he dug in the ground, 

 but without avail, in the hope of finding moisture. Again he 

 turned to the cutting of the log, but soon exhaustion weakened 

 his exertions. Night came on again and with it came the 

 bear; but this time he was glad to see the brute, for its presence 

 made him feel less lonely and drove away despair. This time, 

 too, the bear sat around in such a friendly way, that Marasty 

 felt relieved enough to sing some hymns and do a little pray- 

 ing; but when he began to sing a second time, the big black 

 beast lost patience, got up and walked away, much to the 

 regret of the imprisoned hunter. 



In the morning the now almost lifeless Marasty heard in 

 the distance the voice of his brother calling his name; but 

 though he shouted wildly in answer, no response came, for the 



