SECUEE THE CUBS. 259 



Here there was no possibility of running, 

 but I jammed the muzzle of the rifle into 

 the brute's face, and luckily got it into 

 her throat, which caused her to put both 

 her paws upon it, in place of on me. I 

 called out to the lad to fire, he leant forward, 

 pulled the trigger, and fortunately shot the 

 bear right through the head ; she rolled over 

 to the mouth of the cave, dead. It was like 

 awaking from some terrible dream. 



The men soon came up with the dogs, and 

 we proceeded to get the cubs out of the cave. 

 Two dogs were put into the cave, and one of 

 the cubs immediately darted out ; a man 

 gave it a desperate cut over the back with 

 his hatchet, and disabled it so much that it 

 was easily secured. The other would not 

 leave its stronghold, although the dogs were 

 worrying it for half-an-hour, until at last, 

 on pulHng one of them out by the hind 

 legs, the young bear was drawn out also, 

 the dog having firm hold of it with his 

 teeth. 



A very singular and quite unaccountable 



