steep and thickly strewn with windfalls about which the new growth
had sprung up. Its top was like the thin edge of a wedge, and the
farther side dropped, a steep sand-bank, to the stream which flowed
at its foot. When we were hardly more than half-way up, there was
the sound of a shot and a funny, little shrill cry from Job. Bruin
had been climbing the sand-bank, and was nearly at the top when Job
fired. The bullet evidently struck him for, doubling up, his head
between his legs, he rolled over and over to the foot of the bank.
When I reached the top of the hill he was on his legs again and
running down along the edge of the stream. There had been only one
cartridge in the rifle, and Job rushed down the hill to the canoe
for more.

Joe and Gilbert had crossed the river meantime and were landing
near our canoe. The stream turned abruptly round the foot of the
hill close to them, and I wondered what would happen when Bruin
appeared suddenly round the bend. Evidently Bruin had the best
eyes--or nose--for, on coming to the bend, he turned suddenly and
started back up-stream; but again changing his mind he made up over
the hill where we had first seen him. I was still panting and
trembling with the exertion of my climb, but I took out my revolver
and sent a few shots after him. It is hardly needful to say they
did not hurt the bear. When Job and Gilbert came up with the
rifles to where we were standing he was just disappearing over the
top of the hill, having apparently been little injured, and so the
chase was not followed up.

Our camp that night was on a high sand-bank on the north shore of
the river. The place chosen looked rough and unpromising to me,
for the ground was thickly strewn with windfalls. All this part of