collect just how much grub we had at the start, or how much water
there was in the pool first off, we couldn't for the life of us reckon
just how long we'd been there. Neither me nor Old-pot-head's son would
care to take our oaths whether we'd been there a night an' half a day,
or half a dozen nights an' days; the night time an' the day time was so
mixed up together that we hadn't time to separate 'em. We were sure,
tho', that our grub was givin' out, the water was dryin' up, an' death
was gettin' good an' ready for us.

"We was in such a terrible tight place that I begins to think o' takin'
off me shirt an' flyin' it from the top o' the tallest pine as a signal
o' distress; for we was worse off than if we'd been shipwrecked. Talk
about bein' cast adrift on a raft! Why, it wasn't in it with bein'
fixed the way we was. We just stayed in one spot with no chance of
ever driftin' to'rds help. As long as the bear kept tab on us there
wasn't no sign of our ever gettin' a wink o' sleep. And more, besides
starvin' to death, we had to face bein' frozen; for our clothes was all
wore off, an' winter was comin' on mighty fast.

"At last, when me an' Old-pot-head's son had about given up hope, an'
was just pickin' out which would be the easiest death, what should we
see but somethin' bobbin' in an' out among the bushes. Say, it was
another bear! When it comes a little closer, we makes out it was a
little lady bear. No sooner does our old stern-chaser spy her than he
slides down to the groun', an' risin' up on his hind legs, throws out
his chest, an' cocks his eye at her, for all the world like a man when
he sees a pretty girl comin' his way. But when her dainty little
ladyship ketches sight of his bald-headed stomach, she just tosses up
her nose with disgust, an' wheels roun' an' makes for the tall timbers
with our affectionate friend limpin' the best he can after her.

"An' that's the last we sees o' the bear that tried to hold up the
Company's packet."

After the laughter had died down, Chief Factor Thompson yawned:

"Well, gentlemen, it's getting on. I must be turning in or my men will
be late in getting under way in the morning."

GOD AND THE WILD MEN

Drowsiness had indeed overtaken the camp. But now I must digress a
moment to tell you something that the public--at least the public that
has derived its knowledge of northern wilderness life from fiction--may
find it hard to believe. And this is what I want