54 FORTY-FOURYKARftOF 



Standing at tlie root of the tree, ready for the fip:ht, his 

 courage failed him, and he quietly lay down again. Then 

 Mr. Alartin again took the gun, and tried two or three 

 more shots. It may be remembered that I often asked 

 them to let me have one more shot at him ; but in return 

 I otdy got curses, was asked what I knew about a gC'U, 

 and told to stand out of their way, or they would \u03k 

 me out. 



It was by this time getting dark, and I had been at that 

 tree from ten or eleven o'clock, and many of the others 

 had been there quite as long. It now became so dark that 

 Martin could not see the powder in the pan. The gun 

 missing fire, the powder was thrown out ; and in his great 

 confusion, he did not think of the situation of his lock, 

 l)ut snapped and cursed, cursed and snapped, till I saw he 

 was discouraged. 



I then went up to him in the dark, and told him I could 

 set the gun off. He gave me some curses, and told me to 



take it and be ; at the same time handing it to me. 



I felt for the powder in the pan, and found it empty ; but 

 having some in a horn, I placed it carefully in the i)an, 

 and was ready to try my luck. IJy this time there wcne 

 fourteen men round that tree. I could only see the bear 

 by getting him between myself and the sky. I took the 

 best aim I could, and (ired ; when down he came, and at 

 him went the dogs. Then a shout of horror arose from 

 the back-track party for every man to climb a tree, or the 

 bear would tear them to pieces; and at it they went, 

 climbing as best they could. Among the number was an 

 Irishman, called Burk, who, in the hurry of the moment, 

 dashed himself against a young honey-locust, which was 

 full of long sharp thorns, and many of the points were 

 sticking deep in his flesh, he roaring, "0 Jasus ! I'm 

 ruint, I'm ruint I Jasus ! it is mint that I am ! " 



Over and over, down the steep hill, tumbled the bear 



