FOllTUNATE SHOT. 265 



an instant's hesitation it ruslied down, and I 

 really never saw anything come at such a 

 pace. It scarcely could have been quicker 

 if it had been pitched at me. I had just 

 time to cock the other barrel, pull the 

 trigger, and not a second to spare. The 

 bear must have been within a yard when I 

 did so, and it was, I think, one of the 

 luckiest shots I ever fired, for taking aim 

 was quite out of the question. The ball hit 

 the animal right in the mouth, smashmg a 

 good many teeth, and entering the brain, 

 which laid it dead at my feet. 



Rather laughable scenes occur at times, 

 in bear hunting. Picture me to yourself, 

 sitting under one of the monarchs of the 

 forest, a huge oak tree. The lowest branch 

 is perhaps thirty feet from the ground; 

 about half-way out on this, is a huge black 

 bear, his fore -paws clasped firmly round it, 

 and the rest of his body dangling in the 

 air. He has just received a bullet through 

 his body, and cannot with all his strength, 

 recover his footing on the tree. We know 



