was almost dark inside, but still there was light enough to make out
that, there was a good big place further in. I was going along on my
hands and knees, when what should I see but several animals like biggish
pigs crawling about. I was wondering what they were, when I heard
Abraham Coxe sing out.

"`Quick, Jerry, quick, get out of the cave, for there is a great big
bear coming along the valley, and she's close aboard of us!'

"It was all very well for Coxe to say, get out of the cave; but that was
more than I could do in a hurry without turning round, when I might have
had all the young bears attacking my rump, saving your presence, ladies.
Coxe also didn't stop to help me, but scampered off as hard as his legs
could carry him. I was going to make the best of my way after him, when
I saw a big white bear not three fathoms off, evidently steering for the
very place itself.

"There was no use trying to get out, for to a certainty the brute would
have grappled me in a moment; so I drew back, thinking to remain
concealed. Just then I remembered the beasts I had seen inside, and I
guessed that they were the bear's cubs, and that I had taken possession
of her abode. It was not a pleasant idea, certainly, but there was no
help for it. In another minute the great big she-bear came snuffing up
to the hole where I lay. I thought that it was all up with me, and
expected every moment to be made into a supper for the bear and her
cubs. The little beasts were all the time licking my heels just to have
a taste, I thought, of what was to come. The bear began to growl, I
fancied because she found me inside; but I believe it was just her way
of talking to her cubs. Thinks I to myself, I'll have a fight for it;
so I doubled my fists, intending to give her a good lick on the eye
before she ate me, when, just as I thought that she was going to make a
grab at me, she slewed round and began to back into the cave stern
foremost.

"`Ho! ho!' says I to myself, `if you goes to make a stern-board, old
gal, I'll rake you before you shows your broadside to me again;' so on
that I whips out my long knife, which I had tucked away in my belt, with
a lanyard round my neck, and drove it with all my force right into her.
The more she backed, and the louder she growled, the harder and faster I
drove in the knife. Still she came backing and backing, and I didn't
like the prospect at all. I thought to myself, `If she drives me up
against