28 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



hat was gone, his curly hair hung matted with sweat and dew, and 

 his axe was held in both hands directly in front of him, the handle 

 sticking in the ground, and the blade pointing directly to the bear. 

 If the bear's tongue was lolling, so was the Doctor's ; if Bruin dis- 

 liked his position, the Doctor appeared more than uncomfortable 

 in his. In his hurry he had tumbled down over the bank directly 

 in front of the quarry, and what with the chase, and the fright of 

 this fearful juxtaposition, the bear was in the better position of the 

 two. The Doctor with his axe presented, and the bear rampant, 

 with his fore-paws just touching the toes of his hind ones as they 

 projected up in front of him, resembled much some old coat of arms. 



" Hurrah ! " I called ; " have at him ! " 



" Eh — eh," said the Doctor, all out of breath ; " shoot him — eh 

 — eh — quick — eh ! " 



I levelled my gun, and pulled the trigger, and a dull snap 

 followed ; the bear shook his head. Another snap, and another — 

 my gun was wet with the dew. 



The bear thus insulted gave a low growl, and a quick toss to 

 his sharp nose. The dogs, construing this a challenge, and em- 

 boldened by our presence, rushed forward, and the huge brute, 

 with a skill that was incomprehensible, would box them off with 

 his fore-paws. One would be sent with a slap a dozen paces in 

 the air; another would get a long cut from the bear's sharp 

 claws, as he sat up like a boxer knocking over children with a 

 mischievous playfulness that seemed more like fun than malice. 

 Wag was there, as pert as the best hound in the brake, yelping, 

 running, biting, and making much noise, and yet keeping out of 

 danger. At length his turn came; a well-directed blow of that 

 big black paw sent him curled up like a kitten, and as senseless 

 as a rag, into his master's arms. 



Poor Doctor ! this seemed to awaken him, and springing to his 

 feet he aimed a blow at the bear's head, that, had it taken effect, 

 would have cloven him in two, but a scarcely perceptible motion 

 of the same black paw sent the axe flying away among the canes, 

 while the Doctor, from the parrying of the blow, came over on 

 his face, and the bear, with a growl and crash, rushed off again 

 followed by the yelling pack. 



