SCIPIO'S MASTERLY ESCAPE. 291 



SO piteously that he might be looked upon as 

 hors du combat. A cur had daringly ventured 

 to seize the bear by the snout, and was seen 

 hanging to it, covered with blood, whilst several 

 others scrambled over its back. Now and then 

 the infuriated animal was seen to cast a revenge- 

 ful glance at some of the party, and we had al- 

 ready determined to dispatch it, when, to our 

 astonishment, it suddenly shook off all the dogs, 

 and before we could fire, charged upon one of 

 the negroes, who was mounted on a pied horse. 

 The bear seized the steed with teeth and claws, 

 and clung to its breast. The terrified horse 

 snorted and plunged. The rider, an athletic 

 young man, and a capital horseman, kept his 

 seat, although only saddled on a sheep-skin 

 tightly girthed, and requested his master not to 

 fire at the bear. Notwithstanding his coolness 

 and courage, our anxiety for his safety was 

 raised to the highest pitch, especially when in 

 a moment we saw rider and horse come to the 

 ground together ; but we were instantly reliev- 

 ed on witnessing the masterly manner in which 

 Scipio dispatched his adversary, by laying open 

 his skull with a single, well directed blow of his 

 axe, when a deep growl announced the death of 

 the bear. 



In the state of Maine the lumbermen (wood- 

 cutters) and the farmers set guns to kill this 



