THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 85 



the advantage, and all the knowledge of his 

 ground. Besides, it was late, and I wanted a 

 salmon for my supper. 



" I have wondered since how much of this 

 hesitation he understood ; and how he came to 

 the conclusion, which he certainly reached, that 

 I meant him no harm, but only wanted to get on, 

 and was not disposed to give him the path. 

 All the while I looked at him steadily, until his 

 eyes began to lose their intentness. My hand 

 slipped back and gripped the handle of my 

 hunting-knife. Some slight confusion came with 

 the motion, though I would certainly have gone 

 over the cliff and taken my chances in the 

 current, rather than have closed with him, with 

 all his enormous strength, in that narrow place. 

 Suddenly his eyes wavered from mine ; he swung 

 his head to look down and up ; and I knew that 

 I had won the first move and the path also, 

 if I could keep my nerve. I advanced a step 

 or two very quietly, still looking at him steadily. 

 There was a suggestion of white teeth under his 

 wrinkled chops ; but he turned his head to look 

 back over the way he had come, and presently 

 he disappeared. It was only for a moment ; 

 then his nose and eyes were poked cautiously 



