was surprising. Something had
evidently irritated the brute considerably, for his whole appearance was
characteristic of unrestrained ferocity.

I dragged the panting fugitive from the water and, without asking any
questions, advanced to the bank of the stream and prepared to take aim.
Whether my gentleman had at some period of his life been so closely
associated with the barrel of a sporting-rifle that he understood the
significance of my movement, I know not; but certain it is that as soon
as I raised the weapon, the bear first of all reared himself on his hind
quarters, displaying his long narrow muzzle adorned with an assortment
of ugly fangs, and then uttering a loud noise, curiously resembling the
heavy breathing of a human being, he fell down on all-fours and
retreated behind a convenient boulder, over the top of which his little
eyes gleamed fiercely every now and again.

The woman, who proved to be the wife of the innkeeper at whose "hotel" I
was sojourning, was shivering with the cold, and her wet garments were
rapidly congealing in the keen frosty air. Her little girl was crying
pitifully with the cold and fright.

It was a question whether I should remain and finish off Bruin or hurry
my companions homeward at a fast trot. I decided to adopt the latter
course.

"The bear can wait," I said, as I turned away; "I'll settle him another
day."

We turned our steps in the direction of the camp, and for some distance
walked in silence. Then of a sudden a plaintive moan from the child
reminded me that the wee mite and her mother, soaked with wet, were, in
the cutting air, rapidly assuming the condition of living icicles.
Fortunately I had a flask with me, and, telling the exhausted and
shivering woman to sit down, I rested my rifle against a stump of a tree
and proceeded to prepare a dose of brandy, at the same time cheering her
with words of encouragement.

"We are not far from home now," I said, "and--"

I did not finish the sentence, for a movement behind caused me to turn
round. To my utter astonishment and horror I found myself face to face
with my old friend, or rather enemy. He had evidently followed with
stealthy steps, the snow acting as a carpet to deaden his heavy
footsteps.

My first idea was to give the intruder a dose of cold lead, but that I
soon discovered was out of the question, for the bear had calmly
appropriated my rifle, which lay beneath his paws.

It seemed to me indeed that