1 6 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



no less than four others of all sizes, that came waddling over the hill in the wake 

 of their leader. After descending a short distance, they all sat down on their 

 haunches, and by sundry sniffs and somewhat ludicrous twists of their necks pro- 

 ceeded to reconnoitre the ground before them. Their noses told them truly that a 

 savory banquet was lying in front of them, but then there were also sundry unwel- 

 come bipeds present, that the shaggy group could not exactly make out to their satis- 

 faction. . So to look better into the matter, the Patriaixh, accompanied by his family, 

 shuffled a little nearer. Never were the absence of all offensive weapons more 

 regretted, than were the rifles lying useless in the camp, by the . hunters gathered 

 around the Moose. They began by shouting at the Bears (which kept advancing 

 gradually), in the hope of intimidating them by the sound of the human voice. But 

 this was at first of no avail, and it appeared as though the dead deer would have 

 to be left to the mercies of the advancing quadrupeds ; and it was only when volleys 

 of stones were added to their shouting, and many a severe blow had been received 

 by the Bears, that the shaggy brutes at last deemed it best to widen the distance 

 between themselves and their inhospitable neighbours. Even when' moving slowly 

 away they continually turned about to have one more look, and as long as he was 

 in sight, the grey-nosed Patriarch kept halting as though debating with himself 

 whether he was not making an ignominious retreat, and unnecessarily leaving a 

 goodly meal behind him. The Moose was soon broken up after the departure of 

 these unexpected visitors, and little of it left for them, should they return again, save 

 the bones and entrails, which however would have consoled them for the loss of the 

 more savory portions. 



As a general rule the Bear is a slow moving animal, and shuffles awkwardly 

 along, advancing both legs on the same side at a time, and is never known to trot. 

 He can, on emergencies, make very rapid progress ; and when endeavouring to 

 escape, or when aroused to wrath, a good horse cannot outstrip him in speed for a 

 short distance. Usually peaceable in disposition, the Bear does not often molest other 

 animals of the forest, and is not interfered with by them. The following incident 

 will shew, however, that he does sometimes get himself into serious difficulty. 



A hunter after pursuing his game for the greater part of a day, in a wild 

 district of North America, wearied with his long journey, on arriving at a small lake, 

 lying like a sheet of silver in the midst of its forest setting, laid himself down upon 

 the shore to rest. He had not remained long, when suddenly the silence of the 



