that he
could not stand. A greater punishment, however, was threatened--that of
not being permitted to go to the bear-hunt, which was to take place on
that day; but I pleaded hard, and asked my father how he would have
liked it, if he had been prevented from going to the battle of
B---(where he had very much distinguished himself). This was taking the
old man on his weak side, and I was, at last, permitted to be present.
Then there arose another difficulty. I was thought too little to carry
a gun, which I had provided; but a neighbour, who had witnessed my
anxiety, took my part, said that he would be answerable for me, and that
I should not quit his side; so at last all was settled to my
satisfaction. As for the caning, I thought nothing at all of that.

"We set off and before we reached the mill, we passed a hollow; the dog
barked furiously, and I let him go. After a time I heard a noise in a
bush. `Did you not hear?' said I to my neighbour.--`Yes,' replied he;
`but I also heard a rustling on the bank this way. Do you look out
sharp in that direction, whilst I look out in this.' He had hardly said
so, and I had not turned my head, when out came the old she-bear, in the
direction where my neighbour had been watching, and sat upon her hind
legs in a clear place. My friend levelled his gun; to my delight he had
forgotten to cock it. While he was cocking it, the bear dropped down on
her fore legs, and I fired; the ball passed through her chest into her
shoulder. She was at that time on the brink of a shelving quarry of
sharp stone, down which she retreated. I halloo'd for the dog, and
followed, slipping and tumbling after her, for I was mad at the idea of
her escaping me. Down we went together, the dog following; when we
arrived at the bottom, the dog seized her. She was so weak that she
supported herself against a rock; at last she rolled on her back,
hogging the dog in her fore paws. This was a terrible source of alarm
to me. I caught the dog by the tail, pulling at it as hard as I could
to release him, crying out, although no one was near me, `Save the dog--
save the dog--or I'll have to pay ten dollars.' But, fortunately, the
bear, although she held the dog fast, had not sufficient strength left
to kill it. Other people now came up; my own musket was down the bear's
throat, where, in my anxiety, I had thrust it; one of them handed me
his, and I shot the bear through the head. Even then, so fearful wa