r--more frightened at the two adversaries behind him than
the one in front--rushed right on, and in the next instant pushed his
snout, head, and neck between the darkey's legs!

Long before this the negro had lost his senses, but now came the loss of
his legs: for as the thick body of the bear passed between them, both
were lifted clear up from the log, and hung dangling in the air. For
several feet along the log was the negro carried upon the bear's back,
his face turned to the tail; and no doubt, had he preserved his
equilibrium, he might have continued his ride for some distance further.
But as the darkey had no desire for such a feat of equestrianism, he
kept struggling to clear himself from his involuntary mount. His body
was at length thrown heavily to one side, and its weight acting like a
lever upon the bear, caused the latter to lose his balance, and tumbling
off the log, both man and bear fell "slap-dash" into the mud.

For a moment there was a confused scrambling, and spattering, and
splashing, through the soft mire--a growling on the part of the bear,
and the wildest screeching from the throat of the affrighted negro--all
of which came to an end by Bruin--whose body was now bedaubed all over
with black mud--once more regaining his feet, and shuffling off up the
bank, as fast as his legs could carry him.

Alexis now fired, and hit the bear behind; but the shot, so far from
staying his flight, only quickened his pace; and before the darkey had
got to his feet, the shaggy brute had loped off among the trees, and
disappeared from the sight of everybody upon the ground.

The grotesque appearance of the negro, as he rose out of the mire in
which he had been wallowing, coated all over with black mud--which was a
shade lighter than his natural hue--was too ludicrous for Ivan to resist
laughing at; and even the more serious Alexis was compelled to give way
to mirth. So overcome were both, that it was some minutes before they
thought of reloading their guns, and giving chase to the bear.

After a time, however, they charged again; and crossing back over the
log, proceeded in the direction in which Bruin had made his retreat.

They had no idea of being able to follow him without dogs; and it was
their intention to send for one or two to the house, when they perceived
that the bear's trace could be made out--at least, for some distance--
without them. The inky water, that had copiously saturated his long
fur, h