ied as much as possible to climb
up the trees on the sides opposite the places where were hidden Frank
and Alec and their Indians. However, they could not keep entirely hid,
and so, at the command of one of the Indians, there rang out the
simultaneous discharge of the four guns. One of the bears suddenly
dropped to the ground, but the other one continued his climbing, until
he reached a position quite close to Frank, on the branch of the tree,
in which he had ascended. The boys and men had not time to load their
guns, as they were single-barrelled muzzle-loaders. In addition to
watching this attack on the two bears, they had to vigorously use their
clubs on the noses of those attacking three. As before, these three
were speedily defeated, and now the excitement was to see how Frank and
his comrade would deal with the big fellow that had succeeded in
reaching a position on a branch that was in a line with them. They
could observe him cautiously working his way on a great branch of the
tree which he had ascended, and was endeavouring to get into the
branches of the tree, in which they were located.

After some clever balancing he managed to get hold of a long branch that
reached out horizontally toward him, and steadying himself on it, and
holding on to a much smaller one above, he gradually began making his
way toward them. The Indian at once saw his opportunity, and told
Frank, who was on this upper branch to which the bear with his forepaws
was clinging, to bravely crawl out on it as far as he safely could, and
keep up a vigorous attack with his club on the bear's nose. This Frank
gallantly did, and, while thus employed, the Indian drew his axe, and
began vigorously chopping the large limb of the tree, on which the bear
was standing. Assailed by Frank's blows he made but little headway, and
so, before he knew what was up, the branch suddenly gave way under him
and he fell to the ground, a badly stunned and discouraged bear. This
gave time for the guns to be carefully reloaded, and then the besieged,
thinking they had had excitement enough for one night, became the
assailants, and so began firing down upon the bears below them.

Sam, in his excitement, had put too much powder in his gun, and when he
fired the kick of the weapon caused him to lose his balance and he
tumbled to the ground. It was fortunate for him that he fell in a soft
place, and was not in the least hurt or stunned, for the only unwounded
be