ve them
another chance, all three fired, and in such haste that two of them
quite missed the object. Only the bullet of Alexis had been properly
aimed; and this was seen striking the bear right in the teeth--several
of which were shot clean out of his jaws!

As the smoke cleared out of their eyes, the great yellow body of the
bear was observed out upon the little ledge that projected in front of
the cave; and uttering loud screams--expressive both of rage and pain--
the angry animal bounded down among the boulders. Instead of making
down the ravine--as our hunters expected--he turned upwards, and rushed
directly towards them.

Again there was no alternative but flight; and up the steep gorge they
must go. To make downward would be to run right upon the claws of the
infuriated animal; and upward was the only way left open to them.

All three started and ran as fast as they were able; and for a while
were in hopes of distancing their pursuer. But further up, the slope
grew steeper; and the loose stones became more difficult to clamber
over. Their breath, too, was by this time quite gone; and all three
were panting like "winded" horses.

It was impossible for them to go a step farther.

In despair, they halted; and turned to face the pursuer--all of them at
the same instant drawing their knives; and bracing their bodies for the
expected struggle. The bear, still growling and screaming, came on--
making way over the stones much faster than they had done. He would
have been certain of overtaking them, had they continued their race: for
he was scarce six paces behind them when they stopped.

No doubt it would have been a dangerous conflict, had it come off; and,
indeed, breathless as they were, they could never have sustained the
attack. Of course, they had no time to reload their guns, and did not
think of such a thing. Their determination was to defend themselves
with their knives; and perhaps they might have succeeded in doing so,
had there been an occasion. But there was not.

Before the bear could get up to them, a better idea had flashed across
the brain of Pouchskin; which he lost not a moment in carrying into
execution. Stooping suddenly, and flinging his knife out of his hands,
he laid hold of a large boulder--big enough to weigh at least half a
hundred--and, raising this to the height of his shoulder, he hurled it
down upon the bear!

The huge stone struck the animal right upon the breast; and wh