one of my barrels, I might have killed with the other;
but two such cunning and fierce fellows as bears were a fearful odds
against me, which I would gladly have avoided. Still, I of course
determined to fight it out as best I could. I threw still more wood on
my fire. I lighted another torch, and stuck it between some stones by
my side, so that I might have a steadier light than the fire afforded,
the flickering flames from which very much confused the objects in the
further recesses of the galleries, and would have prevented me getting a
steady shot at my enemies. Then I knelt down with my rifle presented,
ready to take a steady shot at the bears, should they show signs of
intending to attack me. They looked at me, and I looked at them. They
were licking their paws; whether they did so expecting to find some more
roast partridge and pea-fowl, or with the anticipation of a feast off
me, I could not tell. I had no doubt that one of my visitors was the
bear I had seen, and the other his better half. I was only very glad
that they had not a whole tribe of young bears and bearesses with them.

Under circumstances of such fearful suspense, it is difficult to say how
long a time may have passed--seconds appear minutes, and minutes hours.
The bears growled, and their angry voices sounded through the vaulted
passages like the echoes of distant thunder. I felt inclined to roar
too. Sometimes I thought that a loud shout might frighten them away. I
was considering how loud I could shout. Then I considered that my
wisest course would be to keep the most perfect silence, for roar loud
as I might, I could not roar as loud they could. Once more they uttered
a horrible growl. They were evidently holding a consultation as to what
they should do to me. On they came nearer and nearer, uttering the most
menacing growls. I had, I thought, but one chance--to knock over one of
them with one barrel, and the other with the second. I pulled the
trigger. The first barrel missed fire; the next did the same. In my
agitation when last loading I had forgotten to put on the caps. I had
no time even to remedy my neglect. I was completely at the mercy of the
angry monsters. I had but one chance, it seemed, of my life left.
Igniting another torch, I grasped one in each hand, and whirling it
around my head, I rushed boldly towards the bears, shrieking at the top
of my voice, and as I got up to them, dashing the blazing brands at
the