THE LAST DAY AT CIIEE-HA. 221 



tance, as if they feared his quietude might be coun- 

 terfeit I dismounted and reloaded my left hand 

 barrel. 



" And now, my friends," said I, on remounting, 

 " we have glorious sport ahead ! a wounded bear 

 is within fifty yards of us." 



" Now we know you joke," said they in a breath ; 

 " you fired but one barrel !" 



" But that," said I, " had bullets for two. I have 

 shot another, as sure as a gun ! but that (glancing 

 at him of the buck) is not always the highest assur- 

 rance ! look here, at these bushes, torn up by his 

 struggles and this blood ! He made his way into 

 that thicket, and there we'll find him ! Let us sur- 

 round it set on the dogs, and then hurra ! for the 

 quickest shot and the surest marksman ! only take 

 care, as we stand so close, that we do not shoot each 

 other !" 



The hounds were now brought to the trail, while 

 we shout and clap our hands in encouragement. 

 But they were panic stricken, and would not budge 

 a foot in advance of the drivers. 



" Let us ride in," said Loveleap ! 



" Done," said I ; and we placed ourselves, with 



G and C , in the first line, while the other 



hunters, moving on the flanks, were in position to 



give their fire if he broke out. 

 1-1-2 



