AQUATIC SPORTS, 293 
We were once enjoying a fine autumnal alter 
noon on the shores of the beautiful Ohio, with 
two acquaintances who had accompanied us in 
quest of some swallows that had built in a high 
sandy bank, when we observed three hunters 
about the middle of the river in a skiff, vigor- 
ously rowing, the steersman paddling, too, with 
all his strength, in pursuit of a bear which, 
about one hundred. and fifty yards ahead of 
them, was cleaving the water, and leaving a 
widening wake behind him on its unrippled. 
surface as he made for the shore, directly oppo- 
site to us. We all rushed down to the water at 
this sight, and launching a skiff we then kept 
for fishing, hastily put off to intercept the an- 
imal, which we hoped to assist in capturing. 
Both boats were soon nearing the bear, and we, 
standing in the bow of our skiff, commenced the 
attack by discharging a pistol at his head, At 
this he raised one paw, brushed it across his 
forehead, and then seemed to redouble his efforts. 
Repeated shots from both boats were now fired 
at him, and we ran alongside, thinking to haul 
his carcase triumphantly on board; but sud- 
denly, to our dismay, he laid both paws on the 
gunwale of the skiff, and his great weight 
brought the side for an instant under water, 
so that we expected the boat would fill and 
ank. There was no time to be lost: ve al! 
25* 
