noise still continued, as if some one was
breaking into the hut or store, and turning over the articles piled up
in it. I jumped into my clothes, for with the thermometer twenty
degrees below zero, it is not pleasant to run out without some covering,
and calling up my companions, seized my rifle and axe, ever ready at
hand, and rushed out to ascertain what was the matter. I fully believed
that the camp was attacked by red-skins, and that we were about to have
a desperate affray. The door of the store was close to that of our
sleeping hut, but it was closed of course at night. I opened it and
sprang in with my axe, ready to strike, hoping by the suddenness of my
attack to scare the Indians, and prevent them from defending themselves.
The moon was shining with a splendour which she never exhibits through
the denser atmosphere of merrie England, and she was just then casting
her beams through the open doorway. There was a window in the hut which
had been boarded up, but the boards had been torn away, and a glistening
sheet of snow was seen through it. Thus there was enough light in the
shed to render a lantern unnecessary. I started back; for, instead of
the party of red-skins I expected to see, my eyes fell on a huge grizzly
bear, who was busily rolling the casks about, in a vain attempt to get
at their contents.

He was a ferocious-looking monster, gaunt and hairy, and had evidently
been driven out to forage in our camp by the pangs of hunger. When he
saw me he gave forth a fierce growl of defiance, and instead of
decamping, as I expected he would, he made a desperate rush at me. I
stepped back and lifted my axe, intending to make its sharp edge fall
with all my strength on his head; but he was too quick for me, and
seizing my arm, in another instant the savage brute had me fast locked
in his deadly embrace. He would have killed me in an instant, I verily
believe, had I not as he caught me, shoved the head of the axe into his
open mouth, where it served the purpose of a gag, and considerably
incommoded him. It may be supposed that I sung out pretty lustily at
the same time for help. As to doing anything for myself, I found that
was impossible, beyond the holding the axe with all my might in the
bear's mouth. I felt certain that the moment it got out would be my
last.

"Help! help! Obed, Short! Quick, quick!--a huge grizzly bear has got
me," I shouted.

The monster seemed to comprehend the meaning of my