orced it back to its original course. Another moment
and it grounded violently, breaking into four pieces, which rolled off
on either side toward the abyss. And the woodsman, splashing into the
turbulent shallows, made good his hold upon a rock and dragged himself
ashore.

Fairly landed, he shook himself, spat coolly into the flood, and
turned to see what was happening to his fellow in distress. To the
roaring vortex just below him--so close that it seemed as if it might
at any moment drag down the little island and engulf it--he paid no
heed whatever, but turned his back contemptuously upon the tumult and
the mists. His late enemy, alive, strong, splendid, and speeding to a
hideous destruction, was of the keener interest to his wilderness
spirit.

[Illustration: "HE LAUNCHED HIMSELF AGAIN, DESPERATELY."]

The bear was now about twenty paces above the island; but caught by an
inexorable current, he was nearly that distance beyond it. With a
distinct regret, a pang of sympathy, the man saw that there was no
chance of his adversary's escape. But the bear, like himself, seeing a
refuge so near, was not of the temper to give up without a struggle.
Suddenly, like a gigantic spring uncoiling, he launched himself forth
with a violence that completely up-ended his ice-cake, and carried him
over a space of churned torrent to the edge of another floe. Gripping
this with his mighty forearms till he pulled it half under, he
succeeded in clawing out upon it. Scrambling across, he launched
himself again, desperately, sank almost out of sight, rose and began
swimming, with all the energy of courage and despair combined.

But already he was opposite the head of the island. Could he make it?
The man's own muscles strained and heaved in unconscious sympathy with
that struggle. The bear was a gallant swimmer, and for a moment it
looked as if there might be the ghost of a chance for him. But no, the
torrent had too deadly a grip upon his long-furred bulk. He would
_just_ miss that last safe ledge!

In his eagerness, and without any conscious thought of what he was
doing, the man stepped down into the water knee-deep, bracing himself,
and clinging with his left hand to a tough projecting root. Closer
came the bear, beating down the splintered refuse that obstructed him,
his long, black body labouring dauntlessly. Closer he came,--but not
quite close enough to get his strong paws on the rock. A foot more
would have done it,--but that p