ld bite him.

We shouted and shrieked, hoping to frighten Bruin, as we scrambled over
the rocks. At length Charley, still holding the bear's throat with one
hand, managed to get hold of his knife with the other, and in spite of
the creature's claws round his waist, using all his strength he struck
the weapon into its breast. The bear opened its paws as it felt the
knife entering, and Charley, having driven the weapon home, sprang back,
when the creature rolled over, almost crushing one of the dogs in its
convulsive struggles. Before we could get up to the scene of the
contest it was dead, and most thankful were we to find Charley
wonderfully little injured, though his clothes were somewhat torn. Our
young friend showed indeed remarkable nerve, for he scarcely even
trembled, though his cheek was somewhat paler than usual from the
desperate exertions he had made.

On examining the bear we found that it was an old one, and somewhat thin
from want of food; its claws also were blunted from old age, which
circumstance accounted for Charley's almost miraculous escape, for had
it possessed its full strength a single hug would have pressed the life
out of his body.

We congratulated him heartily on his preservation, and complimented him
on the courage he had exhibited.

"Let us have the skin, at all events," he said. "I would sooner carry
it on my own shoulders into camp than leave it behind."

"We'll not disappoint you, my boy," said Story; and he immediately began
to flay the animal; but as its flesh was likely to prove tough, we left
the carcase for the benefit of the prairie wolves.

While Story and I carried the skin between us, Armitage assisted
Charley, who was less able to walk than he had at first supposed. A man
cannot get even a moderate hug from a bear without suffering.

At the camp we found two strange Indians, who seemed disposed to be very
friendly, and invited us to pay them a visit at their lodges only an
hour's march off. One of them was a fine young fellow, dressed in a
leathern jacket and leggings richly ornamented, while on his head he
wore a circlet of feathers. He appeared to be greatly struck with
Charley on hearing of his exploit with the bear, and putting out his
hand, declared that they must henceforth be brothers.

Dick, though greatly delighted at hearing of Charley's behaviour, was
much concerned on seeing the injuries he had received, which were more
serious than we had at first s