--with the great brute near enough to reach him at a
single spring,--in fact, almost between his legs--he had little cause to
congratulate himself upon the "find." Nor did he. On the contrary, he
was seized with a quick perception of danger, and only thought of making
his escape. He would have turned upon the instant and fled; but it
occurred to him, that by doing so he would draw the bear after him; and
he knew that, notwithstanding the uncouth shuffle which a bear makes in
running,--and the sloth bear is the greatest "shuffler" of the family,--
he can still go too fast for a man. Should he turn his face, the bear
might spring upon his back, and thus have him at his mercy.

Instead of facing away, therefore, Ivan kept his front to the bank; and
with his eyes fixed upon the animal, commenced gliding backward, slowly
but silently. At the same time he had cautiously raised his gun to the
level--with no intention, however, of firing, but merely to be ready in
case the bear should become the assailant. Otherwise, Ivan was
perfectly agreeable to making it a "draw" between them.

Bruin, however, had no idea of thus giving up the game; for the fierce
growl which just at that moment escaped him, signified anything but
assent. On the contrary, it was the prelude to the play; and declared
his intention of beginning it. Almost simultaneous with the growl, he
was seen starting to his feet; and before Ivan could pull trigger, or
even raise his gun to a proper elevation, a huge mass of black shaggy
hair, like a bundle of sooty rags, came whisking through the air
directly towards him. Men talk of the sudden spring of the tiger, and
the quick, rushing charge of the lion; but strange as it may seem,
neither one nor other of these animals can charge forward on their
intended victim with more celerity than a bear--clumsy and uncouth as
Bruin may appear. His capacity of raising himself erect gives him this
advantage; and from his great plantigrade posterior paws, combined with
his powerful muscular legs, he can pitch forward with a velocity
surprising as it is unexpected. This the regular bear-hunter well
knows; and the knowledge renders him cautious about coming too close to
a _couchant_ bear. Ivan himself knew it; and it was for this very
reason he was endeavouring to widen the distance between himself and
Bruin, before he should turn to run.

Unfortunately he had not succeeded in gaining sufficient ground. He was
still wi