nd I wanted to eat him: that is to say, I
determined to do so if I could, should he attack me. If he left me
unmolested to pursue my journey--I felt that discretion would be in this
instance the best part of valour--that it would be wisest to leave him
alone in his glory; for a grizzly, as all hunters know, even with a
rifle bullet in his ribs, is a very awkward antagonist. He was so long
rubbing his nose, that I at last lost patience, and began to move on. I
had not taken a dozen steps when his warning growl again reached my
ears. I stopped, and he went on rubbing his nose as before.

"This is all nonsense, old fellow," I exclaimed. "Growl as much as you
like. I am not going to stop for you any longer."

So, putting my best foot forward, as I had need of doing, I stepped
quickly out. I very naturally could not help turning my head over my
shoulder, to see what Bruin was about, and, as I did so, a growl louder
than the previous one reached my ear, and I saw him moving on at a
swinging trot after me. This I knew meant mischief. Flight was totally
out of the question. I must fight the battle like a man. It must be
literally victory or death.

Strange as it may seem, my heart felt more buoyant when I had made up my
mind for the struggle, independent of certain anticipations of the
pleasure I should derive from the bear steaks I had in contemplation,
should I be successful. I speak, perhaps, too lightly of the matter
now, because I do not want to make more of my deeds than they deserve;
but it was in reality very serious work, and I have cause to be deeply
thankful that I did not become the victim of that savage beast. Let
this be remembered, that I was then, and I am now even more so, most
grateful; yet not grateful enough; that I also feel for the merciful way
in which I was brought through all the perils to which I was exposed.
This being clearly understood, I shall consider myself exonerated from
the frequent introduction of expressions to show that I was not a
heartless, careless mortal, without a sense of the superintending
providence of a most merciful Creator. I do feel, and I have always
felt, that there is no civilised being so odious among all the races of
man as a person of that description.

Well, on came the huge bear. I knelt down and took my pike, as a rest
for my rifle. This was a great advantage. Growling and gnashing his
teeth, the enemy advanced. I prayed that my arm might be nerved,