ar soon made a rush for him, but was not quick enough to find him
unprepared.

Sam now knew more about bears than he did when he rushed into the camp
with one not far behind him. So here there was no desire to even try
and regain his position in the tree, from the branches of which he had
so suddenly descended. Springing up from the spot where he had fallen,
he drew his keen-bladed knife, and placing his back against the tree he
awaited the attack. He had not long to wait. The bear, maddened by the
battle that had been going on, and doubly excited by the smell of blood
from his wounded comrades, rushed at him with the intention of making
short work of him by hugging him to death. But he little knew what was
before him. With all the nerve and coolness of an old Indian hunter,
Sam waited until the big fore paws, like great, sinewy arms, were almost
around him. Then with a sudden lunge he drove the knife firm and true
into the very heart of the fierce brute. There was one great convulsive
shiver, and then the bear fell over dead.

The next instant there was a great shout from those who had landed from
the canoes in time to witness this brave act. The shout was caught up
by the others, who, when they saw Sam's unceremonious descent from the
tree, began to descend more slowly, and were in good time to see him
give the deadly thrust.

Sam had indeed redeemed himself, and was the hero for many a day. Alec
and Frank were very proud of him, and hearty indeed were their
congratulations. Sam cheerfully accepted their congratulations, but had
his own opinion of himself, first, for putting too much powder into his
gun, and secondly, for so ignominiously tumbling out of the tree.

On looking over the ground they found four dead bears. One, badly
wounded, had managed to crawl away into the forest.

They had had enough excitement for that night, so they gathered up some
dry wood, made a fire, and cooked some fine whitefish in thorough Indian
style. They had good appetites for a good supper, and after it were
soon sound asleep. As usual the boys were the last to wake up the next
morning, and found that the Indians had already tracked and killed the
wounded bear that had escaped in the night.

Some time was spent in skinning them, and then, loaded with the robes
and meat, they returned in high spirits where they had left Big Tom and
Martin Papanekis and the other Indians.

There were great rejoicings at their success