THE BLACK BEAK. 273 



sharp barks denoted that they were in close quarters, and 

 that a death-struggle was going on. 



They were coming nearer and nearer to me. It was too 

 much for a hunter to stand and not be allowed to par- 

 ticii^ate. Putting spurs to my horse, I dashed ahead to 

 meet the dogs, regardless of the instructions of Phillips, 

 and thereby I lost the chance of killing the Bear. The 

 sleet was so heavy that I must have made a world of noise. 

 This caused the Bear to turn and give Parson Littlejohn 

 the chance of putting in a good shot. The cane was so 

 thick that the only damage he did was to break a fore-leg, 

 low down, which did not impede the Bear' s flight a great 

 deal; but it made her more savage than ever, and several of 

 the curs were soon left dead on her trail. 



I attempted to head the run, but got caught in a vine, 

 and while I was disengaging myself, I saw Taylor dash by 

 me, hatless, and regardless of every impediment, intent on 

 sto]3f)ing the Bear from crossing the river, or killing it as it 

 should cross the road. 



Quickly cutting the vines that held me, I galloped 

 behind him, and saw Bear and dogs crossing just ahead of 

 him. Tlie fight was so close that he could not shoot, for 

 fear of killing a dog. Down the bank plunged the Bear, 

 with old Kate nipping her hind legs, and the balance of 

 the pack at her sides and around her. Oh, but she was 

 furious! Her angry growls could be heard above the roar 

 of the dogs, and then a fearful shriek told that some dog 

 had been bitten, or struck by her paw. 



Into the water plunged the Bear, with dogs pulling at 

 her as she swam across, and Howell, on his gallant gray 

 horse, Felix, swimming so high that the water did not 

 cover the skirts of the saddle. Several times I saw him 

 raise his gun to shoot, and tlien take it down. I was right 

 behind him, my horse swimming, not like Felix, but so 

 low that I was wet to the neck, 



' ' Don' t shoot ! " I shouted to Howell. ' ' If you kill her, 

 she will sink, and we will lose her," But as she rose to 

 ascend the bank, he could not restrain his impetuosity, but 



18 



