ame time calling upon
my companion to paddle for the shore. We preferred, under all
circumstances, risking the chances of a land encounter with our grizzly
antagonist.

"I had succeeded in keeping the bear out of the canoe by several
well-planted blows upon the snout; and Dick was equally successful in
forcing the dug-out nearer to the bank, when a sharp crack reached my
ears, followed by a terrified cry from my companion.

"I glanced suddenly round, to ascertain the cause of these
demonstrations. Dick held in his hands a short round stick, which I
recognised as the shaft of the paddle. The blade had snapped off, and
was floating away on the surface!

"We were now helpless. The _manege_ of the canoe was no longer
possible. Over the falls she must go!

"We thought of leaping out, but it was too late. We were almost upon
the edge, and the black current that bore our craft swiftly along would
have carried our bodies with like velocity. We could not make a dozen
strokes before we should be swept to the brink: it was too late.

"We both saw this; and each knew the feelings of the other, for we felt
alike. Neither spoke; but, crouching down and holding the gunwales of
the canoe, we awaited the awful moment.

"The bear seemed to have some apprehension as well as ourselves; for,
instead of continuing his endeavours to climb into the canoe, he
contented himself with holding fast to the stern, evidently under some
alarm.

"The torch still blazed, and the canoe was catching fire; perhaps this
it was that alarmed the bear.

"The last circumstance gave us at the moment but little concern; the
greater danger eclipsed the less. We had hardly noticed it, when we
felt that we were going over!

"The canoe shot outward as if propelled by some projectile force; then
came a loud crash, as though we had dropped upon a hard rock. Water,
and spray, and froth were dashed over our bodies; and the next moment,
to our surprise as well as delight, we felt ourselves still alive, and
seated in the canoe, which was floating gently in still smooth water.

"It was quite dark, for the torch had been extinguished; but even in the
darkness we could perceive the bear swimming and floundering near the
boat. To our great satisfaction, we saw him heading for the shore, and
widening the distance between himself and us with all the haste he could
make. The unexpected precipitation over the falls had cooled his
courage, if not his hostili