240 The Grizzly Bear 



Now Captain Lewis was a brave man and likewise 

 a truthful one. We do not, for an instant, question 

 his complete sincerity. But, in view of the sequel, we 

 may, perhaps, query the "open mouthed" and question 

 the "full speed." For, starting with a lead of twenty 

 paces. Captain Lewis was still twenty feet ahead at the 

 end of the race, and an "open-mouthed bear at full speed" 

 would have had him in six jumps. Be that as it may, 

 however, the captain, when he had run eighty yards, 

 finding that the bear was gaining, bethought him that 

 he might stand a better show if the bear had to attack 

 him swimming. 



"He therefore turned short, plunged into the water, 

 and facing about, presented the point of his espontoon. 

 The bear arrived at the water's edge within twenty feet 

 of him, but as soon as he put himself in this posture of 

 defence the bear seemed frightened and, wheeling about, 

 retreated with as much precipitation as he had pursued. 

 Captain Lewis returned to the shore and observed him 

 run with great speed, sometimes looking back as if he 

 expected to be pursued till he reached the woods." 



Now it may be thought that even a ferocious bear might 

 be terrified by the "presented poinfr of an espontoon"; 

 but having myself never owned one of these mysterious 

 weapons, and having, nevertheless, seen scores of grizzlies 

 act for all the world as this one did in its retreat, I do not 

 believe that this terrible engine of destruction (not men- 

 tioned, by the way, in the Standard Dictionary) had 

 anything to do with it. Indeed, I have no manner of 

 doubt that if the captain had thought of his espontoon 

 in the first instance, or if he had so much as waved a 



