ATTACK AND RETREAT. 319 



stantly swinging to and fro ; as she did not sit quite 

 upright I had no other choice than to aim at the head, 

 in the hope that if I missed my aim, the ball might 

 pierce the breast. As I was taking aim, the thought 

 crossed my brain for a moment (why should I deny 

 it ?) how helpless I was if the shot failed ; but it lasted 

 only a moment, and, in the excitement of the present, 

 I forgot both past and future. 



I took a long aim, and yet, as the bear was not still 

 for one second I pulled the trigger too soon. The cave 

 was filled with thick smoke ; a fearful groan announced 

 that the beast was wounded ; we did not wait to 

 examine the state of affairs, but crept back as fast as 

 the narrow space would allow, to a spot where there 

 was more room to move, in order to reload, and return 

 to the attack. 



We had retreated, backwards, for about a hundred 

 yards, and had halted in a more convenient part of the 

 cave, when we heard the bear coming towards us, 

 snorting and snapping her teeth, till the cave echoed 

 with the sound. My first thought was " Good-by to 

 the light of the sun." But I had not much time for 

 consideration, and called to young Conwell to make 

 haste if he valued our lives, for the old one was coming. 

 He did not require much pressing, and I never saw 

 crabs crawl backwards quicker than we tried to do ; 

 yet, however great our hurry, and imminent our dan- 

 ger, it was very slow work, and the snorting came nearer 

 and nearer. 



I had dropped my rifle, as it very much hindered 

 my retreat, and keeping a sharp look-out in front, 

 where I constantly expected to see the bear, I suddenly 



