230 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 



was near eight feet above the level of the water, 

 made at me with great ferocity; but just as the 

 creature was about to revenge the death of his 

 dam, I saluted him with a load of large shot in 

 his right eye, which not only knocked that out, but 

 also made him close the other; during which time, 

 he turned round several times, pawed his face, 

 and howled most hideously. He no sooner was 

 able to keep his left eye open, than he made at me 

 again, quite mad with rage and pain; but when 

 he came to the foot of the bank, I gave him an- 

 other salute with the other barrel, and blinded 

 him most completely; his whole head, was then 

 entirely covered with blood. The second shot 

 made him act in the same manner as the first, 

 until he struck the ground with his feet, when he 

 landed a little below me, and blundered into the 

 woods; knocking his head against every rock and 

 tree that he met with. 



I now perceived that two others had just landed 

 about sixty yards above me, and were fiercely 

 looking round them. As both my guns were dis- 

 charged, the ram-rod of my rifle broken by load- 

 ing in too great haste the last time, and as I had 

 left my shot, and ball-bag belonging to the other 

 in the boat, I freely confess, that I felt myself in 

 a very unpleasant situation. But as no time was 

 to be lost, I darted into the woods and instantly 

 loaded my double-barrel with powder only; that 

 I might singe their whiskers at least, if I were 

 attacked; for the rifle balls were too large. 

 Having loaded my rifle also with as much ^expe- 



