to grasp its opponent in its awful embrace, but it held him
with its claws and seized his left shoulder with its teeth. This
rendered the use of the revolver impossible, but fortunately Brixton's
right arm was still free, and he drove the keen knife a second time deep
into the animal's sides. Whether mortal or not, the wound did not
immediately kill. Tom felt that his hour was come, and a deadly fear
came over him as the thought of death, his recent life, and judgment,
flashed through his brain. He drew out the knife, however, to make
another desperate thrust. The bear's great throat was close over his
face. He thought of its jugular vein, and made a deadly thrust at the
spot where he imagined that to run.

Instantly a flood of warm blood deluged his face and breast; at the same
time he felt as if some dreadful weight were pressing him to death.
Then consciousness forsook him.

While this desperate fight was going on, the miners of Pine Tree camp
were scouring the woods in all directions in search of the fugitive. As
we have said, great indignation was felt at that time against thieves,
because some of them had become very daring, and cases of theft were
multiplying. Severe penalties had been imposed on the culprits by the
rest of the community without curing the evil. At last death was
decided on as the penalty for any act of theft, however trifling it
might be. That these men were in earnest was proved by the summary
execution of the next two offenders who were caught. Immediately after
that thieving came to an abrupt end, insomuch that if you had left a bag
of gold on an exposed place, men would have gone out of their way to
avoid it!

One can understand, therefore, the indignation that was roused in the
camp when Tom Brixton revived the practice in such a cool and impudent
manner. It was felt that, despite his being a favourite with many of
the diggers, he must be made an example. Pursuit was, therefore,
organised on an extensive scale and in a methodical manner. Among
others, his friend Fred Westly took part in it.

It cost those diggers something thus to give up the exciting work of
gold-finding for a chase that promised to occupy time and tax
perseverance. Some of them even refused to join in it, but on the whole
the desire for vengeance seemed general.

Bully Gashford, as he did not object to be called, was, in virtue of his
size, energy, and desperate character, tacitly appointed leader. I