Both the young hunters succeeded in passing over the log, and had set
foot on the peninsula; while the negro, who was following a little
behind, was still upon the prostrate trunk. Just at that moment a noise
was heard--very similar to that made by a pig when suddenly started from
its bed of straw--a sort of half snort, half grunt; and along with the
noise a huge black body was seen springing up from under the loose pile
of dead trees, causing several of them to shake and rattle under its
weight. Our hunters saw at a glance that it was the bear; and levelled
their guns upon it with the intention of firing.
The animal had reared itself on its hind legs--as if to reconnoitre the
ground--and while in this attitude both the hunters had sighted it, and
were on the eve of pulling their triggers. Before they could do so,
however, the bear dropped back on all-fours. So sudden was the
movement, that the aim of both was quite disconcerted, and they both
lowered their guns to get a fresh one. The delay, however, proved fatal
to their intention. Before either had got a satisfactory sight upon the
body of the bear, the latter sprang forward with a fierce growl, and
rushed right between the two, so near that it was impossible for either
of them to fire otherwise than at random. Ivan did fire, but to no
purpose; for his bullet went quite wide of the bear, striking the log
behind it, and causing the bark to splinter out in all directions. The
bear made no attempt to charge towards them, but rushed straight on--
evidently with no other design than to make his escape to the woods.
Alexis wheeled round to fire after him; but, as he was raising his gun,
his eye fell upon the negro, who was coming on over the log, and who had
just got about halfway across it. The bear had by this time leaped up
on the other end, and in a hurried gallop--that had been quickened by
the report of Ivan's piece--was going right in the opposite direction.
The negro, who saw the huge shaggy quadruped coming straight towards
him, at once set up a loud "hulla-balloo," and, with his eyes almost
starting from their sockets, was endeavouring to retreat backwards, and
get out of the way.
His efforts proved fruitless: for before he had made three steps to the
rear, the bear--more frightened at the two adversaries behind him than
the one in front--rushed right on, and in the next instant pushed his
snout, head, and neck between the darkey's legs!
Long before this the negro had lost his senses, but now came the loss of
his legs: for as the thick body of the bear passed between them, both
were lifted clear up from the log, and hung dangling in the air. For
several feet along the log was the negro carried upon the bear's back,
his face turned to the tail; and no doubt, had he preserved his
equilibrium, he might have continued his ride for some distance further.
But as the darkey had no desire for such a feat of equestrianism, he
kept struggling to clear himself from his involuntary mount. His body
was at length thrown heavily to one side, and its weight acting like a
lever upon the bear, caused the latter to lose his balance, and tumbling
off the log, both man and bear fell "slap-dash" into the mud.
For a moment there was a confused scrambling, and spattering, and
splashing, through the soft mire--a growling on the part of the bear,
and the wildest screeching from the throat of the affrighted negro--all
of which came to an end by Bruin--whose body was now bedaubed all over
with black mud--once more regaining his feet, and shuffling off up the
bank, as fast as his legs could carry him.
Alexis now fired, and hit the bear behind; but the shot, so far from
staying his flight, only quickened his pace; and before the darkey had
got to his feet, the shaggy brute had loped off among the trees, and
disappeared from the sight of everybody upon the ground.
The grotesque appearance of the negro, as he rose out of the mire in
which he had been wallowing, coated all over with black mud--which was a
shade lighter than his natural hue--was too ludicrous for Ivan to resist
laughing at; and even the more serious Alexis was compelled to give way
to mirth. So overcome were both, that it was some minutes before they
thought of reloading their guns, and giving chase to the bear.
After a time, however, they charged again; and crossing back over the
log, proceeded in the direction in which Bruin had made his retreat.
They had no idea of being able to follow him without dogs; and it was
their intention to send for one or two to the house, when they perceived
that the bear's trace could be made out--at least, for some distance--
without them. The inky water, that had copiously saturated his long
fur, had been constantly dripping as he trotted onward in his flight;
and this could easily be seen upon the herbage over which he had passed.
They determined, therefore, to follow this trail as far as they could;
and when it should give out, it would be time enough to send for the
dogs.
They had not proceeded more than a hundred yards; when all at once the
trail trended up to the bottom of a big tree. They might have examined
the ground further, but there was no need; for, on looking up to the
trunk, they perceived large blotches of mud, and several scratches upon
the bark, evidently made by the claws of a bear. These scratches were,
most of them, of old date; but there were one or two of them quite
freshly done; besides, the wet mud was of itself sufficient proof that
the bear had gone up the tree, and must still be somewhere in its top.
The tree was a sycamore, and therefore only sparsely covered with
leaves; but from its branches hung long festoons of Spanish moss
(_tillandsia usneoides_), that grew in large bunches in the forks--in
several of which it was possible even for a bear to have stowed himself
away in concealment.
After going round the tree, however, and viewing it from all sides, our
hunters perceived that the bear was not anywhere among the moss; but
must have taken refuge in a hollow in the trunk--the mouth of which
could be seen only from one particular place; since it was hidden on all
other sides by two great limbs that led out from it, and between which
the cavity had been formed by the decaying of the heart-wood.
There could be no doubt that Bruin had entered this tree-cave; for all
around the aperture the bark was scraped and worn; and the wet mud,
lately deposited there, was visible from below.