tching, and the pain which they endured now rendered them indifferent
to aught else than their own misery. Despair had conquered hope--for
they were choking with thirst--and death stared them in the face.

After a long while the bear again lay down, and placing his fore-paws
over his head appeared once more to sleep. Basil could stand it no
longer; and now resolved to make an effort to escape. At all events he
would try to bring about some change in their painful situation.

Cautioning his brothers to remain silent, he slipped down from his tree;
and, with the stealthy tread of a cat, crept over the ground in search
of his rifle. He soon laid hands upon it; and then, returning to his
tree, climbed up again. The shaking of the branches as he did so, awoke
the bear; who sprang to his feet, and rushed towards the tree. Had he
been a moment sooner, it would have been ill for Basil, for the snout of
the animal, as he reared upward against the trunk, almost touched the
boy's feet. It was an "inch of a miss as good as a mile," and Basil was
saved. The next moment he was seated among the branches, and leisurely
loading his rifle!

Strange to say, the bear appeared to comprehend this movement. As if
aware of his danger, he kept out farther from the trees; and, while
rambling about, now, for the first time, stumbled upon what remained of
the carcasses of the big-horns. These he proceeded to tear up, and
devour. He was still within range of the rifle, though not for a sure
shot; but Basil, who knew he could load again, was determined either to
force him farther off, or bring him within reach; and with this intent
he took aim and fired. The bullet hit the bear in the fore-shoulder,
for he was seen to turn his head and tear at the spot with his teeth,
all the while growling with rage and pain. Strange to say, he still
continued to devour the meat!

Again Basil loaded and fired as before. This time the animal received
the shot about the head, which caused him to make fresh demonstrations
of his fury. He dropped his prey, and galloped back among the trees,
first clutching one and then another, making repeated efforts to drag
them down. He at length came to Basil's tree, and seized it in his
fierce hug. This was exactly what the young hunter wanted. He had
hastily reloaded, and as the bear stood upright under the branches, he
leant downwards until the muzzle of his rifle almost touched the snout
of the animal. The