me! Git on, ye baist," (to his
horse), "sure ye're four times as big, an' ought to run faster."

Larry forgot to do his steed the justice to add that it carried fourteen
stone weight on its back. The poor man tried hard to overtake the bear,
but failed to gain an inch on him. To make matters worse, he observed
that the brute was edging towards a wood which lay on his right. Seeing
this he diverged a little, and, by making a dive into a hollow, he
managed to cut off its retreat in that direction. Rocky Mountain Fort,
which lay on his left, was now within half a mile of him, and he could
see some of its inhabitants, who had observed the party coming from the
plains, standing at the gate of the fort watching the chase with much
interest. A glance over his shoulder showed him that his travelling
companions were in view behind. Keenly alive to the fact that he should
be overwhelmed with ridicule if he failed, the now desperate man
conceived the bold idea of driving the bear into the fort! He felt that
this feat was not beyond the bounds of possibility, for the bear was
beginning to flag a little, while his hardy steed was still in good
wind. He therefore applied the whip with greater energy, and soon came
alongside of the bear, which attempted to turn to the right, but Paddy
had become a good and alert horseman by that time, and was on his other
side in an instant. Again the bear tried to double, and again his enemy
checked him and urged him on. Thus they progressed until they drew near
to the gate of the fort. This was now deserted, for the fur-traders
soon understood the game that the wild horseman was playing, and made
way for the entrance of the stranger. At last the bear came so close to
the walls of the fort that it observed the open gateway. A way of
escape was here--it evidently imagined--so it went through at full
gallop! It was immediately met by a house. Turning quickly round, it
was met by another house. Dashing aside, it was brought up by a wall.
As a last resource it ran behind a pile of cut firewood and stuck its
head into a hole, just as Larry O'Hale bounded through the gateway with
a wild cheer of triumph. Will Osten, Big Ben, and Bunco quickly
followed, and the gates were shut by the men of the fort.

But the victory was by no means completed. The question still remained,
How was the enemy to be made prisoner? One of the fur-traders seized it
by the tail and tried to draw it out. He fai