veral partridges and rabbits were shot by the
Indian, and a great many more were missed by Kenneth, much to the
amusement of his companion.

Towards evening the red man turned his steps in the direction of the
tarpaulin tent.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

AN ADVENTURE AND A SURPRISE.

That evening the elder McLeod and Flora had adventure which nearly cost
them their lives.

As the sun began to descend, Roderick, who was recovering fast under the
influence of good-cheer and good nursing, begged Flora to go out and
walk with her father, as she had not left his side all day.

She consented, and sauntered with her father in the direction of the
seashore.

Now it so happened that a brown bear, of a species which is still to be
found on the uninhabited parts of the Labrador coast, had selected that
hour and that locality for his own evening promenade! At a certain part
of the slight track which had been formed by the McLeods in their visits
to the shore, the bushes were very thick, and here, on rounding a bend
in the track, they met the bear face to face. Had there been some
little space between them, the animal would probably have turned and
fled; but, being taken by surprise, he stood fast.

McLeod and his daughter stood aghast on seeing the monster. The former
was unarmed, with the exception of a small hunting-knife and a stout
walking-stick. In the first rush of his feelings he suddenly flung his
stick at the bear, and with so true an aim, that the heavy head struck
it exactly on the point of its nose. Nothing could have been more
unfortunate, for the creature's rage was at once excited. With a savage
growl he rose on his hind legs in the attitude of attack.

"Quick! run back, Flo, I'll check him here," cried McLeod, drawing the
little hunting-knife.

But poor Flora was incapable of running. White with terror she stood
gazing at the bear as if fascinated. Her father, seeing this, stepped
in front of her with that overwhelming rush of determination which is
sometimes felt by courageous men when under the influence of despair,
for he felt that with such a weapon he might as well have assailed an
elephant.

At that moment the well-known voice of Kenneth was heard to utter a
tremendous shout close at hand. Almost at the same instant a sharp
crack was heard, and the bear fell at McLeod's feet, shot through the
heart.

We need scarcely say that it was a ball from the gun of the Indian which
had thus opportunel