THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 9 3 



weapon. I had, however, the consolation of 

 knowing that the bear was badly wounded, and 

 that the rest of the party would soon follow 

 the direction of the sound of firing. Hurling 

 the worthless article at the bear's head, I 

 took to my heels and ran. The bear stopped 

 as she came to the rifle, and bit and worried 

 at it with teeth and claws. I did not pause 

 in my flight until I had put at least a mile 

 between us, and then, hearing no sound of 

 pursuit, I sat down upon a log and lit my 

 pipe. I had scarcely sat there five minutes when 

 I heard the heavy tramp of something approach- 

 ing. Believing it was one of the party, I jumped 

 to my feet and ran forward shouting with 

 laughter, but soon I came to a standstill as the 

 angry growls of a bear reached my ears. I 

 drew my long hunting-knife and prepared for 

 a fight. When the bear caught sight of me, 

 her growling increased, and standing upon her 

 hind-legs, she tore fiercely at the air, and scratch- 

 ing her wounds she seemed to say, "You did 

 this ! You did this ! " 



One glimpse at this infuriated brute was 

 enough ; I felt how powerless I should be in a 

 hand-to-hand fight, so, giving a tremendous 



