of an escape from the bear,
when a new object of dread presented itself to our terrified
imaginations. This object was the sound of falling water; but not as
before, coming from some tributary stream. No. It was a fall of the
river upon which we were floating, and evidently only a very short
distance below us!

"We were, in fact, within less than one hundred yards of it. Our
excitement, in consequence of being pursued by the bear, as well as the
fact that the sough of the cascade above still filled our ears, had
prevented us from perceiving this new danger until we had approached it.

"A shout of terror and warning from my companion seemed the echo of one
I had myself uttered. Both of us understood the peril of our situation,
and both, without speaking another word, set about attempting to stop
the boat.

"We paddled with all our strength--he with the oar, whilst I used the
flat butt of my rifle. We had succeeded in bringing her to a sort of
equilibrium, and were in hopes of being able to force her toward the
bank, when all at once we heard a heavy object strike against the stern.
At the same moment, the bow rose up into the air, and a number of the
burning pine-knots fell back into the bottom of the canoe. They still
continued to blaze; and their light now falling towards the stern,
showed us a fearful object. The bear had seized hold of the dug-out,
and his fierce head and long curving claws were visible over the edge!

"Although the little craft danced about upon the water, and was likely
to be turned keel upward, the animal showed no intention of relaxing its
hold; but, on the contrary, seemed every moment mounting higher into the
canoe.

"Our peril was now extreme. We knew it, and the knowledge half
paralysed us.

"Both of us started up, and for some moments half sat, half crouched,
uncertain how to act. Should we use the paddles, and get the canoe
ashore, it would only be to throw ourselves into the jaws of the bear.
On the other hand, we could not remain as we were, for in a few seconds
we should be drifted over the falls; and how high these were we knew
not. We had never heard of them: they might be fifty feet--they might
be a hundred! High enough, they were, no doubt, to precipitate us into
eternity.

"The prospect was appalling, and our thoughts ran rapidly. Quick action
was required. I could think of no other than to lean sternward, and
strike at the bear with my clubbed rifle, at the s