A hunter's life. 233 



made some objections, saying that he did not wish to see 

 me engage in such a foolish undertaking ; but I had got 

 the idea into my head that I could box him of!', so that he 

 could not come to me. Knox agreed to hold the dog, 

 while I tried what the bear could do in a fair fight. All 

 being ready, a strap was passed round the dog's neck, oi 

 which Knox held the other end ; and arrangements were 

 made as to the time he might let the dog slip, in case of 

 necessity. 



The bear was on the side of a steep bluff, from which 

 there was only a short descent to a pretty stretch of bot- 

 tom land. I went up to the bear, and with my knife cut 

 off the small piece of skin that held him in the trap. As 

 I knew that he would want to go down the hill, I waited 

 until he found that he was free from the trap, and at- 

 tempted to go off, when I made at him. He rushed at me 

 with a snort that made Knox shriek like a woman ; but as 

 he came toward me, I ran down the hill into the bottom. 

 As he did not seem disposed to try to catch me, I again 

 faced about to receive him ; Knox all the while screaming 

 at me to leave. But being determined to give him a crack 

 or two, at all hazards, I stood till he came within reach, 

 when I struck him in the ear as hard as I could, and 

 turned his head round. He then became mad, and rose 

 on his hind-feet to make for my face or neck ; but I struck 

 him in the pit of his stomach, which seemed to double him 

 up. He made another sudden attempt to run under at my 

 legs, when, seeing that he would get hold of me if I stood 

 still, I made a leap, and, as he came on, landed in his 

 rear. 



He was now getting in earnest, and did not try to run 

 from me at all ; but when he found me behind him, he 

 wheeled around, and again came up to the attack. I gave 

 him anothe *'air stroke under the butt of his ear, which 

 made him stagger ; but still he aimed at my legs, and I 

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