ACEOSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



The shore was soon gained by the swimmers, who then beat 

 a rapid retreat up the rocky cliffs and disappeared among the 

 distant hills. As they fled, the exhibition of motherly affec- 

 tion shown by the old bear was very remarkable and pleasing. 

 She would never allow the cub to be separated more than a 

 few feet from her, and would govern her own pace to suit 

 that of her " bairn." 



As the bears made good their escape, self-reproach and 

 disappointment mingled in our souls, and more than one em- 

 phasized denunciation was heaped upon our commander's 

 head because we had been prevented from having our rifles 

 with us. 



After a few moments of bitter reflection as to what " might 

 have been," our thoughts reverted to surveying and the 

 obtaining of fresh water, but before thought could be followed 

 by action, strange to say, two other large bears were sighted 

 ahead. They were near the shore, and not very far from the 

 foot of the falls for which we had been steering. 



A brief consultation was held, and it was decided to ad- 

 vance cautiously upon them. Mac, with his rifle and but a 

 half-dozen remaining cartridges, again took his position in 

 the bow of the boat; but, prompted by recent experience, I 

 remained at the stern vdth my revolver, while Con. stood 

 amidships armed with the gaff. The bears, observing us, 

 landed upon a high point of broken cliffs close by, and as they 

 did so, Mac. gave them a couple of slugs, which evidently 

 took effect, but caused them no particular inconvenience. A 

 moment later they were lost to sight among the rocks. 

 Resolved upon preventing their escape if we possibly could, 

 Mac. and Con. — ^the latter armed with the axe — ^were allowed 

 to go ashore and head off the retreat, while we in the boat 

 skirted along the shore where the bears might be most likely 

 to take to the water. Our landing party had no sooner 

 reached the summit of the first ridge of rock than " bang !" 

 went Mac's rifle, and a moment later, as he crammed in 

 another cartridge, there appeared over the ridge, not more 



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