ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR. 257 



blood from his wounds ; and the monster with whom we 

 had been contending, was lying, a lifeless heap, almost upon 

 the edge of the crag. As soon as I was sufficiently re- 

 covered to listen, my brother informed me that he had a 

 severe conflict with the bear, after rescuing me from the 

 monster's clutches, and that the struggle had been termi- 

 nated, by a thrust of his knife, as the bear was holding 

 him down upon the rock. Wolf had endeavored to perform 

 his duty, but had been nearly disabled by a stroke in the 

 side given by the bear's hind foot. We rested at that 

 bloody spot that night ; and the next morning, although 

 we both felt very sore and stiff, we made a litter for the 

 bear, and succeeded in conveying the prize to a house 

 near the foot of the mountain. I was then put to bed, 

 and two weeks elapsed before I was able to get up again. 

 I tell you, senors, the hug of that bear causes me to shudder 

 even now." 



The Spaniard doubtless, expected us to be very much 

 astonished ; but he was disappointed. Mr. Barrill with a 

 quiet, unpretending manner, then launched forth in a 

 narrative of some of our adventures, designed to en- 

 lighten the Hunter of the Pyrenees in regard to the expe- 

 rience of his audience. As each phase of our sporting 

 life was unfolded, the eyes of the Spaniard kept pace in 

 their expansion, and before we retired for the night, we 

 put him in a state of dumb amazement. It was doubtful, 



9-7* 



