s to climb them. I had fallen into an Indian's deer
trap, dug and covered over so as to deceive them; but which would
readily give way precipitating the game into the snare, the escape from
which was impossible. I laughed at my stupidity at first, as I knew
within an hour, father would be along when with his assistance I could
be easily extricated. I soon had enough to do without laughing, for in
half an hour after, I heard a step above, but before I had time to
speculate on it, the nose of a half grown cub was thrust over the top,
and in the next moment its ugly carcase came tumbling down and fell
with a crash at my feet, uttering a cry of pain as it fell, which was
answered by a growl from above, and in a minute more its dam stood on
the brink growling fiercely at me, as she saw her cub lay helpless and
moaning on the ground. With a spring she lighted on her feet within six
feet of where I stood, for I had retreated into the farthest corner,
not at all relishing a fight in such close quarters, for the hole was
only about eight feet square--and not a very agreeable place to be
cornered in with an enraged bear. Fortunately I had clung to my rifle,
in falling, and had also my hunting knife in my belt, so I concluded if
she was in for a struggle, not to back out of it. I saw at once the cub
had been killed in the fall, for the old bear smelt round and moaned
softly to it, and then finding it did not stir, turned it over and over
with her paw. Finding it still exhibited no signs of life, she turned
towards me with gnashing teeth and flashing eyes, and then, I must say,
I really felt cornered. You know I told you," he added apologetically,
"that I was young then; in fact not more than twenty. Well, the beast
raised herself for a spring at me, when I gave her a pair of bullets,
that made her howl; but she sprang and grasping me in her huge arms,
fastened my arms to my side so that my knife was useless in my belt,
and I was making up my mind that all was over with me, when father
halloed above, he having been drawn thither, by my calls for help,
followed by a leap into the hole, and a half dozen thrusts of his knife
into the monster's heart, relieved me from the closest embrace I hope
ever to encounter."

"I should suppose you could have seen some signs to indicate the trap,"
said Edward.

"The Indians take good care that there are none; covering slender poles
over with a thick layer of leaves that hides effectually the abys