A SAFE CONCLUSION". 287 



distance before us, and neither very thickly 

 wooded nor very bushy ; but no bear was to 

 be seen, although our eye could penetrate the 

 woods for at least two hundred yards. After 

 the first disappointing glance around, we thought 

 bruin might have mounted a tree, but such was 

 not the case, as on looking everywhere nothing 

 could be seen of his black body, and we were 

 obliged to conclude that he had run out of sight 

 in the brief space of time we occupied in ascend- 

 ing the little bank. 



As we were once standing at the foot of a 

 large sycamore tree on the borders of a long 

 and deep pond, on the edge of which, in our 

 rear, there was a thick and extensive "cane- 

 brake," we heard a rushing, roaring noise, as if 

 some heavy animal was bearing down and pass- 

 ing rapidly through the canes, directly towards 

 us. We were not kept long in suspense, for in 

 an instant or two, a large bear dashed out of the 

 dense cane, and plunging into the pond without 

 having even seen us, made off with considerable 

 speed through the water towards the other shore. 

 Having only bird-shot in our gun we did not 

 think it worth while to call his attention to us 

 by firing at him, but turned to the cane-brake, 

 expecting to hear either dogs or men approach- 

 ing shortly. No further noise could be heard, 

 however, and the surrounding woods were as 



