108 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



on that path. They evidently didn't like to face 

 them." 



For a time nothing more was seen of them ; but, 

 as the beaters approached, a tremendous din every 

 now and then announced that some one had viewed 

 the game ; and shortly the bears, one closely follow- 

 ing in the wake of the other, broke at a lobbing 

 gallop directly in front of the position of the two 

 expectant sportsmen, and straight across the open 

 ground towards them. 



Norman was quickest, and dropped the leading 

 bear with his first bullet, the second receiving the 

 contents of his left barrel. Hawkes also brought 

 his rifle to bear on the second one, and almost in 

 the same instant with Norman, fired on the beast. 

 Directly he was struck, the latter rose on his hind 

 legs, and roaring with rage and pain, threw himself 

 savagely on his prostrate companion, furiously 

 striking and tearing at him with his claws. It 

 may have been but the impulse of pain urging him 

 to rend anything within his reach, but it appeared 

 as if he, in some manner, connected his sufferings 

 with his friend, and for some ursine reason attri- 

 buted them to him. If such was the case, Hawkes' 

 left barrel corrected the erroneous impression under 

 which he laboured ; for on receiving it when in 

 the full fuiy of his unnatural attack, he imme- 



