his eyes, and he can't see not'ing no more.

"Bear grab Michel round his body and squeeze him pretty near till his
eyes jomp out. Michel say a little prayer then. Him say him awful
sorry he ain't confessed this year.

"But always he fight that bear and fight some more. Always he is try
get his hands aroun' that hairy throat. Bear tear Michel's shoulder
with his teeth. Michel feel the hot blood run down inside his shirt
and get cold.

"Michel, him always thinkin' Colina is not far, but he will not call to
her. She is only a girl him say; she can't do not'ing to a crazy bear.
Bear hurt her too, maybe, and John Gaviller is mad for that.

"So Michel he jus' fight. He is ver' tire' now. And always they
stamping and tumbling and rolling in the snow, and big red spots drop
all aroun'.

"Colina, she tell me the end of it. Colina say she is walkin' sof' in
the poplar bush looking sharp and all tam listen for game. All is ver'
quiet in the bush.

"Bam-by she hear a fonny little noise way off. Twigs crackling, and
somesing bumping and tromping in the snow. Colina think it is big game
and go quick. Some tam she stop and listen. Bam-by she hear fonny
snarling and grunting. She know there is a fight and she is a little
scare. But she go more fas'.

"Wa! Wa! What a sight she sec there! Poor Michel he pretty near
done. She can't see his face no more for blood. She think he got no
face now. Michel he see her come, and say to her loud as he can: 'Go
way! Go way! You get hurt and John Gaviller give me hell!'

"Colina say not know what to do. Them two turn around so fas' she
'fraid to shoot. She run aroun' and aroun' them always looking for a
chance. Bam-by she see the handle of Michel's knife in a hole in the
snow. She grab it up. She watch her chance. Woof! She stick that
bear between the neck and the shoulder!

"That is all!" said Poly. "Bear, him grunt and fall down. Stick his
snoot in the snow. Michel crawl away. Colina is fall down too and cry
lak a baby. For a little while all three are dead!

"Then Colina wash his wounds with clean snow, and tear up her petticoat
for to mak' bandage. She put him on his snowshoes and drag him back
where the dogs is. She bring him quick to the fort. In one week
Michel is go to his traps same as ever. That is the story!"

"By God, there's a woman!" cried Peter. Ambrose said nothing.

When Poly Goussard reembarked in his dug-out a heavy constraint