d weight, bent downward like a bow. Fortunately, it was oak, and
did not break.

Basil was astride, his face turned to the tree and towards his pursuer.
The long snout of the latter was within three feet of his head, and he
could feel her warm breath, as with open jaws she stretched forward,
snorting fiercely.

At this moment the ring-end of the lasso struck the branch directly
between them, passing a few feet over it. Before it could slip back
again, and fall off, the young hunter had grasped it; and with the
dexterity of a packer, double-knotted it around the limb. The next
moment, and just as the great claws of the bear were stretched forth to
clutch him, he slipped off the branch, and glided down the lasso.

The rope did not reach the ground by at least twenty feet! It was a
short one, and part of it had been taken up in the hasty knotting.
Lucien and Francois, in consternation, had observed this from below, as
soon as it first hung down. They had observed it, and prepared
themselves accordingly; so that, when Basil reached the end of the rope,
he saw his brothers standing below, and holding a large buffalo-skin
stretched out between them. Into this he dropped; and the next moment
stood upon the ground unhurt.

And now came the moment of triumph. The tough limb, that had been held
retent by Basil's weight, becoming so suddenly released, flew upward
with a jerk.

The unexpected violence of that jerk was too much for the bear. Her
hold gave way; she was shot into the air several feet upwards, and
falling with a dull heavy sound to the earth, lay for a moment
motionless! She was only stunned however, and would soon have struggled
up again to renew the attack; but, before she could regain her feet,
Basil had laid hold of Francois' half-loaded gun; and, hurriedly pouring
down a handful of bullets, ran forward and fired them into her head,
killing her upon the spot!

The cubs by this time had arrived upon the ground, and Marengo, who had
now partially recovered, by way of revenging himself for the castigation
he had received from their mother, attacked them with fury. The little
creatures fought fiercely; and, together, would have been more than a
match for Marengo; but the rifles of his masters came to his assistance,
and put an end to the contest.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

JERKING A BEAR.

All three--old bear and cubs--now lay stretched along the grass dead as
may be. A rare-looking trio they were.