A BEAK IN THE CAMP. 29 



The Doctor, gathering himself together, picked up his axe, and 

 listened with me to the lessening crash of the chase as it turned 

 down the river, cry of dog, and crackle of brush, and now and then 

 the whoop of the negroes, who had apparently come up with the 

 chase. At length another pause, and then the peculiar notes of 

 the hounds, and the calls of the negroes, told us the bear was again 

 at bay, and, having recovered our breath, we started to overtake it. 



As we came in view of the spot selected by Bruin for his fight, 

 we saw all the dogs gathered about the base of a tree, the elder 

 ones squatted on their haunches, and the younger ones jumping up 

 and snapping their teeth at the bear, who was comfortably seated 

 on a huge limb, balancing himself with the skill of a dancer and 

 the burlesque gravity of a comedian. The most urbane simplicity 

 marked his countenance ; he seemed of a character that would not 

 have harmed a child, and if I had not seen him a few minutes 

 before boxing the dogs with such vindictive vigour, I would have 

 been willing to have climbed the tree and put my arms around his 

 neck. He looked down at us condescendingly, now and then 

 winking his eye blandly, and then with a dexterous use of his paw, 

 he scratched his side, or rubbed his nose, when the flies tickled him. 



Presently Mike came up, with his rifle on his arm. A glance 

 up in the tree, and he quietly took his seat on a log, remarking, as 

 he did so, " He bear." 



" Oh ! what a murderous animal ! " said the Doctor. " Look at 

 my dog there ; how he has treated him." 



A rifle shot, and Bruin fell inert to the ground, while all the 

 pack rushed in to insult him. 



