130 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



see tliem lise. Looking up, I saw the bear coming down 

 the tree ; when I ran up, and as he struck the ground I 

 shot him — but too far back. He seized my best dog across 

 the back, and laid him out flat ; but while he was at it I 

 sent my knife into his heart. This I did with a very good 

 will ; for I was sure my dog was done for. He lay there 

 till I disposed of the bear and started for home ; when the 

 poor fellow howled piteously. 



I traveled on till I got home, late at night, and found 

 my old uncle Spurgin, together with Mary and the chil- 

 dren, who were all very glad to see me ; for I had been 

 nine days out, and had killed several fine deer and a large 

 bear. 



Here I found my true pleasure — my wife, dressed clean, 

 her beauty, in my estimation, unsurpassed, the children, as 

 clean as water and soap could make them, a plenty to live 

 on, and not an enemy on earth. I say, who could be hap- 

 pier than I was at that time ? It would be diflficult to find 

 any man who had less trouble, and enjoyed more real plea- 

 sure than I did, until the last year of my residence in that 

 place — of which I shall speak hereafter. Having passed 

 the evening in conversation, mostly about the hunt I had 

 been engaged in, it was agreed that the old gentleman 

 sliould assist me next day to bring in the bear. 



After a good night's rest, I felt as if I was ready to en- 

 counter any kind of a beast that ranged those woods ; and 

 I said so at breakfast. 



My uncle reprimanded me, saying, ''A pitcher which 

 goes It ' often to the well will some day or other come back 

 brokeu;" meaning that I would some time or other be 

 killed by the bears or the panthers. 



Mary joined in with him, remarking that she had said 

 and done all in her power, and that she really expected 

 that some day or other I would either be killed or left in 

 the woods, like her poor Watch was left the previous 



