A SHARP PINCH. IO5 



After a ride of some three or four miles we arrived at the 

 ground. My companion was posted above and I lower down 

 on a very steep rocky hill side with bushes scattered about. 

 The bear was said to have laid up under a big bush. After 

 some time we heard the beaters yelling frantically and knew 

 the bear was up. Presently I got a glimpse of him and 

 immediately afterwards my companion fired and rolled him 

 over ; as he did not get up and all was quiet, I thought he was 

 dead, and left my post, but presently there was another shot 

 and a tremendous yelling from the bear; a noise very like what 

 a stout old gentleman would make on being punched in the 

 ribs — Oh ! — Oh ! — Oh ! As the bear passed an open bit of 

 ground above me I let drive at him ; he saw me immediately, 

 and down he came at me with a furious roar. I waited until 

 he was within a few yards when I gave him the other barrel, 

 but as it did not stop him I thought it was high time to cut 

 and run ; in turning to do so I tripped over a rock and fell fiat 

 on my face. He was upon me at once, and looking over my 

 shoulder I saw into the bear's mouth as he made a grab at 

 my head. It was an awful moment. By a desperate 

 struggle I slid away from him, but he pinned me by the 

 thigh ; oh, what a pinch it was. I hit him about the nose 

 and face as hard as I could with my fists, my gun having 

 fallen out of my reach, and luckily for me, as a bear cannot 

 stand a blow on the nose, he let go. I gave him no time 

 to get hold of me again, and I found myself some sixty yards 

 up the hill I don't know how ! Both the men with me, 

 though armed, had bolted. My companion seeing the bear 

 on the top of me came hastening down, met the brute and 

 shot him. He was much surprised on calling out for me to 

 hear my voice so iar up the hill side. I came down not 



