AQUATIC SPORTS. 293 



We were once enjoying a fine autumnal after- 

 noon on the shores of the beautiful Ohio, with 

 two acquaintances who had accompanied us in 

 quest of some swallows that had built in a high 

 sandy bank, when we observed three hunters 

 about the middle of the river in a skiff, vigor- 

 ously rowing, the steersman paddling, too, with 

 all his strength, in pursuit of a bear which, 

 about one hundred and fifty yards ahead of 

 them, was cleaving the water, and leaving a 

 widening wake behind him on its unrippled 

 surface as he made for the shore, directly oppo- 

 site to us. We all rushed down to the water at 

 this sight, and launching a skiff we then kept 

 for fishing, hastily put off to intercept the an- 

 imal, which we hoped to assist in capturing. 

 Both boats were soon nearing the bear, and we, 

 standing in the bow of our skiff, commenced the 

 attack by discharging a pistol at his head. At 

 this he raised one paw, brushed it across his 

 forehead, and then seemed to redouble his efforts. 

 Bepeated shots from both boats were now fired 

 at him, and we ran alongside, thinking to haul 

 his carcase triumphantly on board ; but sud- 

 denly, to our dismay, he laid both paws on the 

 gunwale of the skiff, and his great weight 

 brought the side for an instant under water, 

 so that we expected the boat would fill and 



sink. There was no time to be lost: we all 

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