20 A BOLD ATTACK. 



A party of voyageurs, who had been employed all day in 

 working a canoe up the rapids of the Saskatchewan, had 

 seated themselves in the twilight by a fire, and were busily 

 preparmg their supper, when a large grizzly bear sprang 

 over their canoe, which they had tilted behind them as a 



GRIZZLY AND BLACK BEARS. 



protection against the wind, and seizing one of the party 

 by the shoulder, carried him off. The rest fled in terror, 

 with the exception of a half-blood, named Bourasse, who 

 grasped his gun, and pursued the bear as it retreated 

 leisurely with its prey. He called to his unfortunate 

 comrade that he was afraid of hitting him if he fired at 

 the bear ; but the man besought him to fire immediately, 

 as he was being squeezed to death. Whereupon Bourasse 



