DEATH OF THE BEAR. 181 



Stopped, when my ball was in liis shoulder. The pack 

 was close upon him, and he summoned all his strength 

 to escape from the dogs ; but the wounded shoulder 

 checked his pace, the dogs attacked him, and he rose 

 on his hind legs to oppose them. I could not venture 

 a second shot for fear of injuring some of them, so 

 charged him with my knife, and plunged it from 

 behind the shoulder into his heart; this, with the 

 furious bites of the dogs, soon ended his life. 



My companion arrived at this moment, tired to 

 death, all torn with the thorns, and his horse covered 

 with foam. He was not a little vexed at coming too 

 late; however, he helped to break up the bear, and 

 strip off his skin, — and as each of us had a bag under 

 the saddle, we divided the prize, and rode slowly home. 

 The carcase is always equally divided amongst the 

 hunters ; the skin belongs to the first shot. 



16 



