STILL ON GUARD. 305 



to escape. My people might perhaps take courage, and 

 come to my deliverance ; yet, alas ! I knew their pusillan- 

 imity too well ; I feared they would not venture to approach 

 within a quarter of a mile ; and in this case, if the Grisly 

 ciu^ht sight of them, he would probably rush upon me, 

 and terminate all my uncertainty." 



" But why," said I, interrupting Mr. Jeffrey " why 

 did you not reload your gun?" 



" I attempted to do so," he replied ; " but at every 

 movement the animal raised his head, and began to growl, 

 as if to say, 'None of that, my fine fellow, or, if you 

 stir !' Had I persisted, he would unquestionably have 

 rushed upon me, before I had poured out a sufficient 

 charge of powder. 



" He was an enormous bear, the largest I had ever 

 seen, with a long gray shaggy mane, and small twinkling 

 eyes. You will not believe how great is the cunning of 

 the old bears. My gentleman knew perfectly well that 

 my gun was a weapon of some kind ; he also understood, 

 I am sure of it, that my people were in the neighbour- 

 hood, for from time to time he threw an unquiet look 

 in the direction of the waggons. I could then feel my 

 heart throb violently in my breast, and the sweat poured 

 copiously all over my body." 



" And with good reason !" cried T. "But did the Grisly 

 remain motionless all the day 1 ?" 



" Far, very far from that," replied the merchant ; " his 

 perpetual restlessness kept me in a state of constant 

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