BO NOT GET EXCITED. 
4^0 
It was, indeed, a risky game to be entered into under the 
circumstances. 
After thus stowing themselves in ambush, getting good 
rests for their guns, and determining exactly how far they 
were to let the bear come before firing, they began for 
the first time to calculate the chances that were against 
them, and to feel doubtful, even amidst their nervous ex- 
citement, as to the result. The doctor, who was renowned 
for shooting off the heads of geese and ducks at marvel- 
lously-long distances, may be supposed to have felt perfect 
confidence as to the effect of his “only ball but then he 
had not now his long Kcntuck}^ rifle, and was far from 
certain that he should shoot with his usual closeness 
with the licavy ship’s musket that had been kicking his 
shoulder out of joint for the last few hours. 
As he was, however, the most reliable shot, in spite of 
the absence of his favourite gun, it was determined that 
ho should fire first, wliile Lawton, who was armed with a 
rhinoceros rifio of immense bore, was to aim at his heart 
and fire as soon after as possible. Lastly, Williams, who 
was armed with a double-barrelled shot-gim loaded with 
ball, was cautioned more than once to shoot right for 
the centre of his fore-shoulder, — a little abaft an}^ thing, 
— and to pay particular regard to the state of his own 
nerves, — Le. not to get excited and be led into the danger- 
ous error of shooting over his back, 
“Now, mind what you are about,” said the wary doctor: 
“/ may miss with this old musket, and if you two follow 
my example we arc certain to be hugged to death. You 
remember what the old priest at Taousk told us about 
these fellows? Confound it!” he exclaimed, as he cast 
