hes, with his back against a rock, and with a snarl of defiance
resolved never to retreat "from its firm base." Never were blows more
rabidly dealt. When attacked on one side, he had no sooner turned to
beat down his sanguine foe than he was assailed on the other. Thus he
fought alternately from right to left, his mouth gaping open, his
tongue hanging out, and his eyes gleaming furiously as if swimming in
liquid fire. At times he was charged simultaneously in front and
flank, when for an instant the whole group seemed to be one dark
writhing mass, uttering a medly of discordant and horrid sounds. But
determined to conquer or die on the spot he occupied, Bruin never
relaxed his blows, until the bruised and exhausted dogs were forced to
withdraw a moment the combat, and rush into the narrow rivulet. While
they lay panting in the water, the bear turned his head back against
the rocks, and lapped in the dripping moisture without moving from his
position. But he was fast sinking under his wounds: a stream of blood,
which constantly issued from his body and ran down and discoloured the
water, indicated that his career was nearly finished. Yet his spirit
was not daunted; for while the canine assailants he had withstood so
often were bathing preparatory for a renewal of the conflict, Boone
and Glenn, who had approached the immediate vicinity, fired, and
Bruin, echoing the howl of death as the bullets entered his body,
turned his eyes reproachfully towards the men for an instant, and
then, with a growl of convulsed, expiring rage, plunged into the
water, and, seizing the largest cur, crushed him to death. Ringwood
and Jowler, whose sagacity had hitherto led them to keep in some
measure aloof, knowing their efforts would be unavailing against so
powerful an enemy without the fatal aim of their master, now sprang
forward to the rescue, both seizing the prostrate foe by the throat.
But he could not be made to relinquish his victim, nor did he make
resistance. Boone, advancing at the head of the hunters, (all of whom,
with the exception of Joe and Sneak, being there assembled,) with some
difficulty prevented his companions from discharging their guns at the
dark mass before them. He struck up several of their guns as they were
endeavouring to aim at the now motionless bear, fearing that his
hounds might suffer by their fire, and stooping down, whence he could
distinctly see the pale gums and tongue, as his hounds grappled the
neck of