FOREST LIFE, 139 



waited some time for his return, first removing a strip from the 

 camp door for a port-hole. Hearing nothing of him, all hands 

 turned in again. About twelve o'clock at night he made us his 

 third visit in the door-yard, as before, and directly in front of the 

 camp, ofi'ering a most inviting shot. Creeping softly to the door, 

 and passing the muzzle of the gun through the prepared aper- 

 ture, our eye glanced along the barrel, thence to a dark object 

 not thirty feet distant. A gentle but nervous pressure upon the 

 trigger, a flash, a sheet of fire, and the very woods shook with 

 the reverberating report, which sent Bruin away upon a plunging 

 gallop. The copious eflUsion of warm blood which spirted on 

 the chips was evidence that the leaden messenger had faithful- 

 ly done its duty. A portion of his lights were shot away, and 

 dropped to the ground, which convinced us that he was mortal- 

 ly wounded, and that it would not be possible for him to run far. 

 Seizing as many fire-brands as could be procured, with axes, and 

 the gun reloaded, all hands dashed into the forest after him, half 

 naked, just as they had risen from the bed, leaping, yelling, and 

 swinging their fire-brands like so many wild spirits from the re- 

 gions of fire. 



Guided in the pursuit by the cracking of rotten limbs and the 

 rustling of leaves as he heavily plunged on, we pursued him 

 through a dense swamp. From the increased distinctness with 

 which we heard his step, it was evident Ave were gaining upon 

 him. Soon we heard his labored breathing. Just before we 

 overtook him, he merged from the swamp, and witli much exer- 

 tion ascended a slight elevation, covered with a fine growth of 

 canoe Birch, where, from exhaustion and loss of blood, he lay 

 down, and suffered us to surround him. The inflammable bark 

 of the Birch was instantly ignited all round us, presenting a brill- 

 iant and wild illumination, which lent its influence to a most un- 

 bounded enthusiasm, while our war-dance was performed around 

 the captured and slain marauder. Taken altogether, the scene 



