5f> FORTY-FOUR YEARS or 



"He is dead." 



"That's a lie, I expect." 



" How conid you kill him without a gun or a toiaa« 

 hawk ? " 



" I beat him to death with a club." 



"You be ; though you are fool enougli to do 



anything. " 



So saying, they began to come nearer and nearer, till 

 they were at the edge of the sink ; but they would not 

 come any closer till I took the bear by the foot and shook 

 him ; when they were certain he was indeed dead. Then 

 I showed them the club I had killed him with ; when each 

 one took it and struck the dead beast on the head, to have 

 it to say they had helped to kill the bear. 



The question then arose, how was he to be carried 

 home ? Some were for getting the oxen and cart ; but I 

 told them they could carry him on a pole, by tying his feet 

 together, putting the pole through between his legs, 

 and one person taking each end. This matter decided, 

 they inquired what they were to tie him with. I told 

 them that freshly-peeled bark would be as good as ropes ; 

 and at it they went, to hunt a pole, while I was to get the 

 bark. We all soon returned, with bark and pole. I tied 

 the bear's legs, and put the pole through, when two per- 

 sons took hold, one at each end. But the head of the 

 beast hung so low that the pole wabbled from side to side, 

 and they staggered like drunken men. Such cursing, stag- 

 gering, and tumbling as then occurred, is not often seen. 

 I stopped them, and tied the head close up to the pole, 

 when they got on pretty well, and soon arrived home with 

 their prize — for they claimed the whole credit of what had 

 been done, without naming me in any way other than as a 

 fool. 



The bear was laid in the kitchen, and old Mr. Caldwel' 

 came to see it, and to taunt those fellows for their cow- 



