"HOW MUCH WILL YOU BET?" 171 



progress, then as he came nearer it was neces- 

 sary to keep on our knees while he was dig- 

 ging, and flat on the ground during his walk- 

 ing periods. 



In this way we came to a small stream run- 

 ning into the main channel, which was on our 

 left. This brook we waded, with the water 

 above our knees, and when across it we took 

 to crawling on our hands and knees, behind 

 the shelter of the slight embankment of the 

 river, which consisted of nothing but loose 

 stones and gravel. As may be imagined, the 

 frail bank frequently broke down with our 

 w^eight, not only making some noise but often 

 rolling us into the shallow water at the edge 

 of the river. This program was continued 

 with as much celerity as we could acquire 

 under the peculiar circumstances, the bear in 

 the meantime keeping up not only his dig- 

 ging, but the straight line of travel on which 

 he had started. A slight shift in the wind 

 occurred that was bad for us. 



*'Now look out," the Chief whispered, 

 "he'll get our scent in a few minutes, and at 

 once he will rush for the river; we must then 

 jump up and run as fast as we can, while he is 

 swimming across." 



At this time we were about five hundred 



