Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-01-26

few well-directed strokes of the paddle set
us in quick motion, and we were soon gliding
rapidly down stream, followed by the enraged
animal, that every now and then uttered one
of his fierce snorts. NJ
What rendered our situation terrible one
was, that we could, not now see the bear, nor
tell how, far he might be from US. All to the
rear Of the canoe was Of a pitchy darkness, in
consequence of the screen of, birch-bark. No
object could be distinguished in that direction,
and it was only by hearing him that we could
tell he was still some yards Off The snorts,
however, were more or less distinct, as heard
amid the varying roar Of the waterfall and
sometimes they seemed as if the snout from
which they proceeded was close up to our
stern. We knew that If he once laid his paw
upon the canoe, 1--WE shonld either be sunk or
compelled to leap out and swim for it. We
knew, moreover, that. such an event would be
certain death to one of us at least need
| hardly affirm that my companion used his pad
die with all the energy of despair III assisted,
him as much as was in my power, with the
buteend of my gun, which was empty !; on ac1
count of the hurry and darkness had not at
tempted to reload it, lo noie.ubs adi -e! sois
I'VE had shot down stream for a hundred
yards orso, and were about congratulating
ourselves on the prospect of an escape from
the bear, when a new object of dread present.
ed itself to our terrified imaginations. This
object was the sound of falling water but not
as before, coming from some tributary stream.
No. ltwas tall Of the river upon which we
were floating, and evidently only very short
distance below US We were, in fact, within
100 yards of it. Our excitement, in conse-
quence of being pursued BY the bear, as well
as the fact that the sough of the cascade above
still filed our ears, had prevented us from
perceiving this new danger until we had ap-
proachedit .no5l .1ydilai1eS 81 1oTI aaal
A shout Of terror and warning from my
companion seemed the echo Of one / had NY
self uttered. Both of us understood the peril
of our situation, and both, without speaking
another word, set about attempting to stop the
boat. We padded with all our strength-he
with the oar, while / used the fat butt of my
rifle We had succeeded in bringing her to a
sort of equilibrium, and were in hopes of being
able to force hertowards the bank, when all at
once we heard a heavy object. strike against
the stern. At the same moment, the bow rose
up into the air, and a number Of the burning
pine-knots fell back into the bottom Of the
canoe. They still continued to blaze, and
their light falling towards the stern, showed
us fearful object. The bear had seized hold
of the dug-out, and his fierce head and long
curving claws were visible over the edge
Although the little craft danced about upon
the water, and was likely to be turned keel
upward, the animal showed no intention of
relaxing his hold but on the contrary Seemed
every moment mounting into the canoe 2'l.'
Our peril was now extreme. We knew it,
and the knowledge half paralyzed us. Both
of us had started up, and for some moments
half sat, half crohched, uncertain how TO act
Should we use the paddles, and get the canoe
ashore, it would only be TO throw ourselves
into the Jaws Of the bear. On the other hand,
we could not remain as we were, for in a few
seconds we should be drifted over the falls
and how high they were we knew not We
had never heard Of -them-they might be fifty
feet-they might be hundred. High enough
they were, no doubt, to iprecipitate US into
eternity. The prospect was appalling, and
our thoughts ran rapidly, Quick action was
required. | could think of no other than to-
lean sternward, and strike at the bear with
my dubbed rifle. At the same time l. called
upon my companion to paddle to the shore.
We preferred, under all circumstances, risk
ing the chances of a. land encounter with our
grizzly antagonist. b1rIzI ur,rfy--y-rsE a-I1.
1 had succeeded in keeping the bear but of
the canoe by several well-plahted blows upon
the snout; and Dick was equally successful
in forcing the dug g-out nearer ito the bank,
when sharp crack reached my ears, followed
by a-terri6ed cry from my companion. i.
glanced suddenly yroand, to ascertain. the cause
of these selSlemonstrations. Dick held in his
hands short round stick, which i recognized
as the shaft of the paddle The blade had
snapped off, and was floating away on the sur
face. .If1 ,l9yi1 armuiaHol
! We were now helpless: The n,a,aege Of
the canoe was now no longer possible Over
the falls she must 60! yl We thought Of leap
ing out, but it was too late We were almost
up6n'the edge, and the black current that bore
our craft along, would have carried our bod
les with like velocity We could not make a.
dozen strokes before Hwe should nbe iswept9tol
lthelbfihk 1T was too late We 2bOth saw
this, and each knew the feelingsof the other,
for we felt alike. Neither spoke, bat crouch
ing down and holding the gunwales of the
canoe, we awaited the awful moment. The
bear seemed to have some apprehension as
well, for, instead Of continuing his endeavors
to Climb into the canoe, he contented himself
with holding fast to the stern, evidently under
some alarm The torch still blazzed, and the
canoe was catching fire; perhaps this it was
that alarmed the bear The last circumstance
gave US at the moment but little concern the
greater danger eclipsed the less! We had
hardly noticed il" when we felt that we were
going over The canoe shot outward as if
propelledby some projectile force then came
loud crash, as though We had dropped upon
- = -