by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
DEER HUNT IN A "DUG-OUT."
As we were now approaching the regions where the common fallow deerceased to be met with, and where its place is supplied by two otherspecies, these last became the subject of our talk. The speciesreferred to are the "black-tails," and "long-tails" (_Cervus macrotis_and _leucurus_).
Ike and Redwood were well acquainted with both kinds, as they had oftentrapped beaver in the countries where these deer are found; and theygave us a very good account of the habits of these animals, which showedthat both species were in many respects similar to the _CervusVirginianus_. Their form, however, as well as their size, colour, andmarkings, leave no doubt of their being specifically distinct not onlyfrom the latter, but from each other. Indeed, there are two varietiesof the black-tails, differing in some respects, although both have thedark hair upon the tail, and the long ears, which so much distinguishthem from other deer. The great length of their ears gives to theirheads something of a "mulish" look--hence they are often known among thetrappers by the name of "mule deer." Ike and Redwood spoke of them bythis name, although they also knew them as "black-tails," and this lastis the designation most generally used. They receive it on account ofthe colour of the hair upon the upper side of their tail-tips, which isof a jetty blackness, and is very full and conspicuous.
The two species have been often confounded with each other, though inmany respects they are totally unlike. The black-tails are larger,their legs shorter and their bodies more "chunky," and altogether ofstouter build. In running, they bound with all their feet raised atonce; while those of the long-tailed species run more like the commonfallow deer--by trotting a few steps, then giving a bound, and trottingas before.
The ears of the black-tails stand up full half the height of theirantlers, and their hair, of a reddish-brown colour, is coarser than thehair of the _Cervus Virginianus_, and more like the coat of the elk(_Cervus Canadensis_). Their hoofs, too, are shorter and wider, and inthis respect there is also a similarity to the elk. The flesh of theblack-tails is inferior to that of the fallow deer, while thelong-tailed kind produces a venison very similar to the latter.
Both species inhabit woodlands occasionally, but their favourite_habitat_ is the prairie, or that species of undulating country whereprairie and forest alternate, forming a succession of groves andopenings. Both are found only in the western half of the continent--that is, in the wild regions extending from the Mississippi to thePacific. In longitude, as far east as the Mississippi, they are rarelyseen; but as you travel westward, either approaching the RockyMountains, or beyond these to the shores of the Pacific, they are thecommon deer of the country. The black-tailed kind is more southern inits range. It is found in the Californias, and the valleys of the RockyMountains, as far south as Texas; while to the north it is met with inOregon, and on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, as high as thefifty-fourth parallel. The long-tailed species is the most common deerof Oregon and the Columbia River, and its range also extends east of theRocky Mountains, though not so far as the longitude of the Mississippi.
The hunter-naturalist, who had some years before made a journey toOregon, and of course had become well acquainted with the habits of the_Cervus leucurus_, gave us a full account of them, and related astirring adventure that had befallen him while hunting "long-tails" uponthe Columbia.
"The long-tailed deer," began he, "is one of the smallest of the deerkind. Its weight rarely exceeds 100 pounds. It resembles in form andhabits the common fallow deer, the chief distinction being the tail,which is a very conspicuous object. This appendage is often found tomeasure eighteen inches in length!
"While running, the tail is held erect, and kept constantly switchingfrom side to side, so as to produce a singular and somewhat ludicrouseffect upon the mind of the spectator.
"The gait of this animal is also peculiar. It first takes two amblingsteps that resemble a trot, after these it makes a long bound, whichcarries it about twice the distance of the steps, and then it trotsagain. No matter how closely pursued, it never alters this mode ofprogression.
"Like the fallow deer, it produces spotted fawns, which are broughtforth in the spring, and change their colour to that of the deer itselfin the first winter. About the month of November they gather intoherds, and remain together until April, when they separate, the femalessecreting themselves to bring forth their young.
"The long-tailed deer is often found in wooded countries; though itsfavourite haunts are not amid the heavy timber of the great forests, butin the park-like openings that occur in many parts of the Rocky Mountainvalleys.
"Sometimes whole tracts of country are met with in these regions, whosesurface exhibits a pleasing variety of woodland and prairie; slopinghills appear with coppices upon their crests and along their sides.Among these natural groves may be seen troops of the long-tailed deer,browsing along the declivities of the hills, and, by their elegantattitudes and graceful movements, adding to the beauty of the landscape.
"Some years ago I had an opportunity of hunting the long-tailed, deer.I was on my way across the Rocky Mountains to Fort Vancouver, whencircumstances rendered it necessary that I should stop for some days ata small trading-post on one of the branches of the Columbia. I was, infact, detained, waiting for a party of fur-traders with whom I was totravel, and who required some time to get their packs in readiness.
"The trading-post was a small place, with miserable accommodations,having scarcely room enough in its two or three wretched log-cabins tolodge half the company that happened at the time to claim itshospitality. As my business was simply to wait for my travellingcompanions, I was of course _ennuye_ almost to death in such a place.There was nothing to be seen around but packs of beaver, otter, mink,fox, and bear skins; and nothing to be heard but the incessantchattering of Canadian voyageurs, in their mixed jargon of French,English, and Indian. To make matters still more unpleasant, there wasvery little to eat, and nothing to drink but the clear water of thelittle mountain-stream upon which the fort was built.
"The surrounding country, however, was beautiful; and the lovelylandscapes that on every side met the eye almost compensated for thediscomforts of the post. The surface of the country was what is termedrolling--gentle undulations here and there rising into dome-shaped hillsof low elevation. These were crowned with copses of shrubby trees,principally of the wild filbert or hazel (_corylus_), with severalspecies of _rosa_ and raspberry (rubus), and bushes of the june-berry(_amelanchier_), with their clusters of purplish-red fruit. Theopenings between were covered with a sward of short gramma grass, andthe whole landscape presented the appearance of a cultivated park; sothat one involuntarily looked along the undulating outlines of the hillsfor some noble mansion or lordly castle.
"It is just in such situations that the fallow deer delights to dwell;and these are the favourite haunts of its near congeners, thelong-tails. I had ascertained this from the people at the post; and thefact that fresh venison formed our staple and daily food was proofsufficient that some species of deer was to be found in theneighbourhood. I was not long, therefore, after my arrival, in puttingmyself in train for a hunt.
"Unfortunately, the gentlemen of the company were too busy to go alongwith me; so also were the numerous _engages_; and I set out, taking onlymy servant, a _bois brule_, or half-breed, who happened, however, to bea good guide for such an expedition, as well as a first-rate hunter.
"Setting out, we kept down the stream for some distance, walking alongits bank. We saw numerous deer-tracks in the mud, where the animals hadgone to and from the water. These tracks were almost fresh, and many ofthem, as my servant averred, must have been made the previous night bythe animals coming to drink--a common habit with them, especially in hotweather.
"But, strange to say, we walked a mile or more without getting a glimpseof a single deer, or any other sort of animal. I was becomingdiscouraged, when my man proposed that we should leave the stream, andproceed back among t
he hills. The deer, he believed, would be foundthere.
"This was resolved upon; and we accordingly struck out for the highground. We soon climbed up from the river bottom, and threaded our wayamidst the fragrant shrubbery of amelanchiers and wild-roses, cautiouslyscrutinising every new vista that opened before us.
"We had not gone far before we caught sight of several deer; we couldalso hear them at intervals, behind the copses that surrounded us, themales uttering a strange whistling sound, similar to that produced byblowing into the barrel of a gun, while this was occasionally replied toby the goat-like bleat of the females.
"Strange to say, however, they were all very shy, and notwithstandingmuch cautious crouching and creeping among the bushes, we wandered aboutfor nearly two-thirds of the day without getting a shot at any of them.
"What had made them so wary we could not at the time, tell, but weafterwards learned that a large party of Flathead Indians had gone overthe ground only a few days before, and had put the deer through a threedays chase, from which they had not yet recovered. Indeed, we sawIndian `sign' all along the route, and at one place came upon the headand horns of a fine buck, which, from some fancy or other of the hunter,had been left suspended from the branch of a tree, and had thus escapedbeing stripped by the wolves.
"At sight of this trophy, my companion appeared to be in ecstasies. Icould not understand what there was in a worthless set of antlers toproduce such joyful emotions; but as Blue Dick--such was the_soubriquet_ of my servant--was not much given to idle exhibitions offeeling, I knew there must be something in it.
"`Now, master,' said he, addressing me, `if I had something else, Icould promise you a shot at the long-tails, shy as they are.'
"`Something else! What do you want?' I inquired.
"`Something that ought to grow about yar, else I'm mightily mistaken inthe sign. Let me try down yonder,'--and Dick pointed to a piece of lowswampy ground that lay to one side of our course.
"I assented, and followed him to the place.
"We had hardly reached the border of the wet ground, when an exclamationfrom my companion told me that the `something' he wanted was in sight.
"`Yonder, master; the very weed: see yonder.'
"Dick pointed to a tall herbaceous plant that grew near the edge of theswamp. Its stem was fully eight feet in height, with large lobedleaves, and a wide-spreading umbel of pretty white flowers. I knew theplant well. It was that which is known in some places as master-wort,but more commonly by the name of cow parsnip. Its botanical name is_Heracleum lanatum_. I knew that its roots possessed stimulant andcarminative properties; but that the plant had anything to do withdeer-hunting, I was ignorant.
"Dick, however, was better acquainted with its uses in that respect; andhis hunter-craft soon manifested itself.
"Drawing his knife from its sheath, he cut one of the joints from thestem of the heracleum, about six inches in length. This he commencedfashioning somewhat after the manner of a penny-trumpet.
"In a few minutes he had whittled it to the proper form and dimensions,after which he put up his knife, and applying the pipe to his lips, blewinto it. The sound produced was so exactly like that which I hadalready heard to proceed from the deer, that I was startled by theresemblance.
"Not having followed his manoeuvres, I fancied for a moment that we hadgot into close proximity with one of the long-tails. My companionlaughed, as he pointed triumphantly to his new made `call.'
"`Now, master,' said he, `we'll soon "rub out" one of the long-tailbucks.'
"So saying, he took up the antlers, and desired me to follow him.
"We proceeded as before, walking quickly but cautiously among thethickets, and around their edges. We had gone only a few hundred pacesfarther, when the hollow whistle of a buck sounded in our ears.
"`Now,' muttered Dick, `we have him. Squat down, master, under thebush--so.'
"I did as desired, hiding myself under the leafy branches of the wildrose-trees. My companion cowered down beside me in such an attitudethat he himself was concealed, while the buck's head and antlers wereheld above the foliage, and visible from several points where the groundwas open.
"As soon as we were fairly placed, Dick applied the call to his lips,and blew his mimic note several times in succession. We heard whatappeared to be an echo, but it was the response of a rival; and shortlyafter we could distinguish a hoof-stroke upon the dry turf, as if someanimal was bounding towards us.
"Presently appeared a fine buck, at an opening between two copses, aboutone hundred paces from the spot where we lay. It had halted, thrownback upon its flanks until its haunches almost touched the ground, whileits full large eye glanced over the opening, as if searching for someobject.
"At this moment Dick applied the reed to his lips, at the same timemoving the horns backward and forward, in imitation of a buck moving hishead in a threatening manner.
"The stranger now perceived what appeared to him the branching horns ofa rival, hearing, at the same time, the well-known challenge. This wasnot to be borne, and rising erect on all-fours, with his brow-antlersset forward, he accepted the challenge, and came bounding forward.
"At the distance of twenty paces or so, be again baited, as if stilluncertain of the character of his enemy; but that halt was fatal to him,for by Dick's directions I had made ready my rifle, and taking sight athis breast, I pulled trigger. The result was as my companion hadpredicted, and the buck was `rubbed out.'
"After skinning our game, and hanging the meat out of reach of thebarking wolves, we proceeded as before; and soon after another buck wasslain in a manner very similar to that described.
"This ended our day's hunt, as it was late before Dick had bethought himof the decoy; and taking the best parts of both the long-tails upon ourshoulders, we trudged homeward to the post.
"Part of our road, as we returned, lay along the stream, and we sawseveral deer approaching the water, but, cumbered as we were, we failedin getting a shot. An idea, however, was suggested to my companion thatpromised us plenty of both sport and venison for the next hunt--whichwas to take place by night.
"This idea he communicated to me for my approval. I readily gave myconsent, as I saw in the proposal the chances of enjoying a very raresport. That sport was to be a fire-hunt; but not as usually practisedamong backwoodsmen, by carrying a torch through the woods. Our torchwas to float upon the water, while we were snugly seated beside it; inother words, we would carry our torch in a canoe, and, floating downstream, would shoot the deer that happened to be upon the banks drinkingor cooling their hoofs in the water. I had heard of the plan, but hadnever practised it, although I was desirous of so doing. Dick had oftenkilled deer in this way, and therefore knew all about it. It wasagreed, then, that upon the following night we should try theexperiment.
"During the next day, Dick and I proceeded in our preparations withoutsaying anything to any one. It was our design to keep our night-hunt asecret, lest we might be unsuccessful, and get laughed at for our pains.On the other hand, should we succeed in killing a goodly number oflong-tails, it would be time enough to let it be known how we hadmanaged matters.
"We had little difficulty in keeping our designs to ourselves. Everyone was busy with his own affairs, and took no heed of our manoeuvres.
"Our chief difficulty lay in procuring a boat; but for the considerationof a few loads of powder, we at length borrowed an old canoe thatbelonged to one of the Flathead Indians--a sort of hanger-on of thepost.
"This craft was simply a log of the cotton-wood, rudely hollowed out bymeans of an axe, and slightly rounded at the ends to produce thecanoe-shape. It was that species of water craft popularly knownthroughout Western America as a `dug-out,' a phrase which explainsitself. It was both old and ricketty, but after a short inspection,Blue Dick declared it would do `fust-rate.'
"Our next move was to prepare our torch. For this we had to make anexcursion to the neighbouring hills, where we found the very material wewante
d--the dry knots of the pitch-pine-tree.
"A large segment of birch-bark was then sought for and obtained, and ourimplements were complete.
"At twilight all was ready, and stepping into our dug-out, we paddledsilently down stream.
"As soon as we had got out of the neighbourhood of the post, we lightedour torch. This was placed in a large frying-pan out upon the bow, andwas in reality rather a fire of pine-knots than a torch. It blazed upbrightly, throwing a glare over the surface of the stream, andreflecting in red light every object upon both banks. We, on the otherhand, were completely hidden from view by means of the birch-barkscreen, which stood up between us and the torch.
"As soon as we were fairly under way, I yielded up the paddle to Dick,who now assigned to himself the double office of guiding the dug-out andkeeping the torch trimmed. I was to look to the shooting; so, placingmy trusty rifle across my thighs, I sat alternately scanning both banksas we glided along.
"I shall never forget the romantic effect which was produced upon mymind during that wild excursion. The scenery of the river upon which wehad launched our craft was at all times of a picturesque character:under the blaze of the pine-wood--its trees and rocks tinted with areddish hue, while the rippling flood below ran like molten gold--theeffect was heightened to a degree of sublimity which could not havefailed to impress the dullest imagination. It was the autumn season,too, and the foliage, which had not yet commenced falling, had assumedthose rich varied tints so characteristic of the American _sylva_--various hues of green and golden, and yellow and deep red were exhibitedupon the luxuriant frondage that lined the banks of the stream, and hereand there drooped like embroidered curtains down to the water's edge.It was a scene of that wild beauty, that picturesque sublimity, whichcarries one to the contemplation of its Creator.
"`Yonder!' muttered a voice, that roused me from my reverie. It wasDick who spoke; and in the dark shadow of the birch-bark I could see oneof his arms extended, and pointing to the right bank.
"My eyes followed the direction indicated; they soon rested upon twosmall objects, that from the darker background of the foliage appearedbright and luminous. These objects were round, and close to each other;and at a glance I knew them to be the eyes of some animal, reflectingthe light of our torch.
"My companion whispered me that they were the eyes of a deer. I tooksight with my rifle, aiming as nearly as I could midway between theluminous spots. I pulled trigger, and my true piece cracked like awhip.
"The report was not loud enough to drown the noises that came back fromthe shore. There was a rustling of leaves, followed by a plunge, as ofsome body felling in the water.
"Dick turned the head of the dug-out, and paddled her up to the bank.The torch, blazing brightly, lit up the scene ahead of us, and our eyeswere gratified by the sight of a fine buck, that had fallen dead intothe river. He was about being drawn into the eddy of the current, butDick prevented this, and, seizing him by the antlers, soon deposited himsafely in the bottom of the dug-out.
"Our craft was once more headed down stream, and we scrutinised everywinding of the banks in search of another pair of gleaming eyes. Inless than half an hour these appeared, and we succeeded in killing asecond long-tail--a doe--and dragged her also into the boat.
"Shortly after, a third was knocked over, which we found standing out inthe river upon a small point of sand. This proved to be a youngspike-buck, his horns not having as yet branched off into antlers.
"About a quarter of a mile farther down, a fourth, deer was shot at, andmissed, the dug-out having grazed suddenly against a rock just as I waspulling trigger, thus rendering my aim unsteady.
"I need hardly say that this sport was extremely exciting; and we hadgot many miles from the post, without thinking either of the distance orthe fact that we should be under the disagreeable necessity of paddlingthe old Flathead's canoe every inch of the way back again. Down streamit was all plain sailing; and Dick's duty was light enough, as itconsisted merely in keeping the dug-out head foremost in the middle ofthe river. The current ran at the rate of three miles an hour, andtherefore drifted us along with sufficient rapidity.
"The first thing that suggested a return to either of us, was the factthat our pine-knots had run out: Dick had just piled the last of them inthe frying-pan.
"At this moment, a noise sounded in our ears that caused us somefeelings of alarm: it was the noise of falling water. It was not new tous, for, since leaving the post, we had passed the mouths of severalsmall streams that debouched into the one upon which we were, in mostcases over a jumble of rocks, thus forming a series of noisy rapids.But that which we now heard was directly ahead of us, and must, thoughtwe, be a rapid or fall of the stream itself; moreover, it sounded louderthan any we had hitherto passed.
"We lost little time in conjectures. The first impulse of my companion,upon catching the sound, was to stop the progress of the dug-out, whichin a few seconds he succeeded in doing; but by this time our torch hadshown us that there was a sharp turning in the river, with a long reachof smooth water below. The cascade, therefore, could not be in ourstream, but in some tributary that fell into it near the bend.
"On seeing this, Dick turned his paddle, and permitted the dug-out oncemore to float with the current.
"The next moment we passed the mouth of a good-sized creek, whosewaters, having just leaped a fall of several feet, ran into the river,covered with white froth and bubbles. We could see the fall at a littledistance, through the branches of the trees; and as we swept on, itsfoaming sheet reflected the light of our torch like shining metal.
"We had scarcely passed this point, when my attention was attracted by apair of fiery orbs that glistened out of some low bushes upon the leftbank of the river. I saw that they were the eyes of some animal, butwhat kind of animal I could not guess. I know they were not the eyes ofa deer. Their peculiar scintillation, their lesser size, the wide spacebetween them all convinced me they were not deer's eyes. Moreover, theymoved at times, as if the head of the animal was carried about inirregular circles. This is never the case with the eyes of the deer,which either pass hurriedly from point to point, or remain with a fixedand steadfast gaze.
"I knew, therefore, it was no deer; but no matter what--it was some wildcreature, and all such are alike the game of the prairie-hunter.
"I took aim, and pulled trigger. While doing so, I heard the voice ofmy companion warning me, as I thought, not to fire. I wondered at thisadmonition, but it was then too late to heed it, for it had been utteredalmost simultaneously with the report of my rifle.
"I first looked to the bank, to witness the effect of my shot. To mygreat surprise, the eyes were still there, gleaming from the bushes asbrightly as ever.
"Had I missed my aim? It is true, the voice of my companion hadsomewhat disconcerted me; but I still believed that my bullet must havesped truly, as it had been delivered with a good aim.
"As I turned to Dick for an explanation, a new sound fell upon my earsthat explained all, at the same time causing me no slight feeling ofalarm. It was a sound not unlike that sometimes uttered by terrifiedswine, but still louder and more threatening. I knew it well--I knew itwas the snort of the grizzly bear!
"Of all American animals, the grizzly bear is the most to be dreaded.Armed or unarmed, man is no match for him, and even the courageoushunter of these parts shuns the encounter. This was why my companionhad admonished me not to fire. I thought I had missed: it was not so.My bullet had hit and stung the fierce brute to madness; and a quickcracking among the bushes was immediately followed by a heavy plunge:the bear was in the water!
"`Good heavens, he's after us!' cried Dick in accents of alarm, at thesame time propelling the dug-out with all his might.
"It proved true enough that the bear was after us, and the very firstplunge had brought his nose almost up to the side of the canoe.However, a few well-directed strokes of the paddle set us in quickmotion, and we were soon gliding rapidly down stream, fo
llowed by theenraged animal, that every now and then uttered one of his fiercesnorts.
"What rendered our situation a terrible one was, that we could not nowsee the bear, nor tell how far he might be from us. All to the rear ofthe canoe was of a pitchy darkness, in consequence of the screen ofbirch-bark. No object could be distinguished in that direction, and itwas 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 thevarying roar of the waterfall; and sometimes they seemed as if the snoutfrom which they proceeded was close up to our stern.
"We knew that if he once laid his paw upon the canoe, we should eitherbe 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.
"I need hardly affirm, that my companion used his paddle with all theenergy of despair. I assisted him as much as was in my power with thebutt-end of my gun, which was now empty. On account of the hurry anddarkness, I had not attempted to re-load it.
"We had shot down stream for a hundred yards or so, and were aboutcongratulating ourselves on the prospect of an escape from the bear,when a new object of dread presented itself to our terrifiedimaginations. This object was the sound of falling water; but not asbefore, coming from some tributary stream. No. It was a fall of theriver upon which we were floating, and evidently only a very shortdistance below us!
"We were, in fact, within less than one hundred yards of it. Ourexcitement, in consequence of being pursued by the bear, as well as thefact that the sough of the cascade above still filled our ears, hadprevented us from perceiving this new danger until we had approached it.
"A shout of terror and warning from my companion seemed the echo of oneI had myself uttered. Both of us understood the peril of our situation,and both, without speaking another word, set about attempting to stopthe boat.
"We paddled with all our strength--he with the oar, whilst I used theflat butt of my rifle. We had succeeded in bringing her to a sort ofequilibrium, and were in hopes of being able to force her toward thebank, 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 theburning pine-knots fell back into the bottom of the canoe. They stillcontinued to blaze; and their light now falling towards the stern,showed us a 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 likelyto be turned keel upward, the animal showed no intention of relaxing itshold; but, on the contrary, seemed every moment mounting higher into thecanoe.
"Our peril was now extreme. We knew it, and the knowledge halfparalysed us.
"Both of us started up, and for some moments half sat, half crouched,uncertain how to act. Should we use the paddles, and get the canoeashore, 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 secondswe should be drifted over the falls; and how high these were we knewnot. We had never heard of them: they might be fifty feet--they mightbe a hundred! High enough, they were, no doubt, to precipitate us intoeternity.
"The prospect was appalling, and our thoughts ran rapidly. Quick actionwas required. I could think of no other than to lean sternward, andstrike at the bear with my clubbed rifle, at the same time calling uponmy companion to paddle for the shore. We preferred, under allcircumstances, risking the chances of a land encounter with our grizzlyantagonist.
"I had succeeded in keeping the bear out of the canoe by severalwell-planted blows upon the snout; and Dick was equally successful inforcing the dug-out nearer to the bank, when a sharp crack reached myears, followed by a terrified cry from my companion.
"I glanced suddenly round, to ascertain the cause of thesedemonstrations. Dick held in his hands a short round stick, which Irecognised as the shaft of the paddle. The blade had snapped off, andwas floating away on the surface!
"We were now helpless. The _manege_ of the canoe was no longerpossible. Over the falls she must go!
"We thought of leaping out, but it was too late. We were almost uponthe edge, and the black current that bore our craft swiftly along wouldhave carried our bodies with like velocity. We could not make a dozenstrokes before we should be swept to the brink: it was too late.
"We both saw this; and each knew the feelings of the other, for we feltalike. Neither spoke; but, crouching down and holding the gunwales ofthe canoe, we awaited the awful moment.
"The bear seemed to have some apprehension as well as ourselves; for,instead of continuing his endeavours to climb into the canoe, hecontented himself with holding fast to the stern, evidently under somealarm.
"The torch still blazed, and the canoe was catching fire; perhaps thisit was that alarmed the bear.
"The last circumstance gave us at the moment but little concern; thegreater danger eclipsed the less. We had hardly noticed it, when wefelt that we were going over!
"The canoe shot outward as if propelled by some projectile force; thencame a loud crash, as though we had dropped upon a hard rock. Water,and spray, and froth were dashed over our bodies; and the next moment,to our surprise as well as delight, we felt ourselves still alive, andseated in the canoe, which was floating gently in still smooth water.
"It was quite dark, for the torch had been extinguished; but even in thedarkness we could perceive the bear swimming and floundering near theboat. To our great satisfaction, we saw him heading for the shore, andwidening the distance between himself and us with all the haste he couldmake. The unexpected precipitation over the falls had cooled hiscourage, if not his hostility.
"Dick and I headed the canoe, now half full of water, for the oppositebank, which we contrived to reach by using the rifle and our hands forpaddles. Here we made the little vessel fast to a tree, intending toleave it there, as we could not by any possibility get it back over thefall. Having hung our game out of reach of the wolves, we turned ourfaces up-stream, and, after a long and wearisome walk, succeeded ingetting back to the post.
"Next morning, a party went down for the venison, with the intentionalso of carrying the canoe back over the fall. The craft, however, wasfound to be so much injured, that it would not hang together during theportage, and was therefore abandoned. This was no pleasant matter tome, for it afterwards cost me a considerable sum before I could squarewith the old Flathead for his worthless dug-out."