106 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



towards me; in this mortal danger, I preserved my 

 presence of mind. Dropping my gun, and drawing my 

 knife, I sprang back a couple of paces behind a small 

 tree ; at this moment the bear was only a few feet from 

 me. As he rose on his hind legs to embrace me, he 

 was almost as tall as I, and his fiery eyes and long 

 teeth had nothing very attractive ; but he was not 

 destined to know the taste of my flesh. 



I was quite collected, feeling sure that one or the 

 other must die. The moment he tried to grasp me, I 

 thrust my long double-edged hunting knife into the 

 yawning abyss of his jaws, and boring it into his brain, 

 I brought him to the ground. I did not then know 

 better, but I ought to have sprung back after wound- 

 ing him, and then I should have escaped unhurt. As 

 it was, he dragged away my coat in falling, and tore my 

 arm slightly. I thanked God that it was no worse. 

 There I sat on the sweet smelling heath, with my coat 

 all in rags, and no other to put on. To assuage my 

 sorrow, I cut a large steak from the bear, which tasted 

 particularly good after my severe exertions. I carried 

 away the skin. In the evening I fell in with a herd 

 of deer, but did not fire at them, as I was well provided 

 with meat. 



On the following evening I heard a shot. The 

 sound ran through me like an electric shock. There 

 were, then, other people in this wilderness, and not 

 very far off, for the shooter must be on the other side 

 of the nearest hill. I turned rapidly in the direction 

 whence the sound came, and had hardly gained the 

 crest of the liill, when a romantic and variegated scene 

 spread itself before my eyes. 



