Martin, who had got all the dogs collected together and fast by a piece of deer’s-hide, as soon as they had discovered the bear, went back with Mr and Mrs Campbell and the girls.
“You need have no fear, ma’am,” said Martin; “the rifles won’t miss their mark, and, if they did, I have the dogs to let loose upon him; and I think Oscar, with the help of the others, would master him. Down—silence, Oscar—down, dogs, down. Look at the Strawberry, ma’am, she’s not afraid, she’s laughing like a silver bell.”
During this interval the bear again applied to the cooler, and burnt himself as before; and this time, being more angry, he now gave another roar, and, as if considering that the joke had been played upon him by the party who were looking on, he made directly for them at a quick run.
“Now, John,” said Malachi, “get your bead well on him, right between his eyes.”
John kneeled down in front of Malachi, who had his rifle all ready. Much to the horror of Mrs Campbell, John permitted the bear to come within twenty yards of him. He then fired, and the animal fell dead without a struggle.
“A good shot, and well put in,” said Malachi, going up to the bear. “Let the dogs loose, Martin, that they may worry the carcase; it will do them good.”
Martin did so; the dogs were permitted to pull and tear at the dead animal for a few minutes, and then taken off; in the mean time, Mr Campbell and the ladies had come up to where the animal lay.
“Well, ma’am, isn’t John a cool shoot?” said Malachi. “Could the oldest hunter have done better?”
“My dear John, you quite frightened me,” said Mrs Campbell; “why did you allow the beast to come so near to you?”
“Because I wanted to kill him dead, and not wound him,” replied John.