ught I heard something moving over the ground behind me.
I turned my head. Horror of horrors! The light from the torch fell on
the shaggy breast and fierce muzzle of a huge bear--the brute I had no
doubt who had made free with my breakfast. He was waddling along with
his paws extended, as if he fully purposed to give me a hug, which would
certainly have squeezed the breath out of my body. I could have
shrieked out, but I did not. Instead of that, I sprang on with frantic
energy towards my torch, which was already almost burned to the very
end. I seized it eagerly, and facing about as the hear with a loud
growl made a spring at me, I dashed it full in his face, and under the
cover of a shower of sparks which were scattered from it I ran as fast
as my legs could carry me towards my fire. The hear was so much
astonished by the unexpected reception of his amiable overtures that he
did not attempt to seize me, and, as may be supposed, I did not stop to
look whether he was about to follow me. My first aim was to get hold of
my rifle. With that in my hand I did not fear him. On I ran. I
happily did not stumble this time. I daresay I was as pale as death--I
am sure I felt so. Gasping for breath, I at length reached the fire. I
hurriedly threw some branches on it to make it blaze up, that I might
see if my enemy was approaching, and how to aim at him, and then I
seized my rifle and stood with it ready to fire. Master Bruin, however,
had been taught to feel a certain amount of respect for me. He did not
make his appearance as I expected, and I began to hope that I should not
be drawn into another battle with him. I had had fighting enough for
that day. After waiting a little time I sat down, for I was sadly
tired; still I thought that for worlds I would not go to sleep. Had I
done so I should have expected to have found myself in the jaws of some
monster or other.

The most important thing was to keep up a good light till sunrise, and
so my first care was to manufacture as many more torches as I had wood
for. I had already found a torch so efficacious a defence, that I was
unwilling to be without one in my hand.

While thus employed, I thought I heard a low growl, and looking up, I
saw moving along the gallery within the aisle to which the glare of my
fire extended, not one bear, but two, looking at me evidently with no
very amiable intentions! I should have had little fear of one, because,
had I missed with