Trail and Camp-Fire 



all those things in this world that he should 

 have done, but had left undone, and of all 

 those other things which he should not have 

 done, but had done ; but the instinct of 

 self-preservation was still strong within him, 

 and an open tree-trunk presenting itself at 

 this opportune moment, he made a dive for 

 it. It had been felled to the ground in some 

 terrific battle of the elements years before, and 

 Cherry got into it just in time to feel the 

 bear's claws tickle the soles of his boots, as he 

 jammed himself into its farther extremity. Do 

 the best he could, this was as far as the bear 

 could reach. He was baffled for a moment 

 only, however, and then Cherry felt his im- 

 promptu habitation suddenly elevated into the 

 air and borne along at a rapid rate. Working 

 himself down to the opening again, he found 

 that the bear had picked the log up on his 

 shoulders and was making for a large beaver 

 pond about three hundred yards distant, from 

 the steep bank of which he dropped it into the 

 water, and then sat down to lick his wounds 

 and await developments. Foreseeing what 

 was coming, Cherry had taken such precau- 

 tions as he could to keep his rifle dry, and as 

 the log floated high enough out of water to 



63 



