"Och, sir," he exclaimed; "if you had but been with me you might have
shot a bear. I was out in the bush searching for the cows, and just as
I was crossing the Big creek, near the beaver meadow, I heard a noise
from a thicket of cedar bushes close by me, and thinking it might be
one of the lost cows I ran forward to see, when to my astonishment and
dismay I came suddenly upon a large bear."

"Well," said I, "what did you do?"

"Faith, then, sir, to tell you the truth, I did not do much only took
to my heels, and ran home as fast as I could to tell you; as I thought
yer honour might perhaps get a shot at the baste, and, troth! he warn't
in the laste bit of a hurry to get out my way, sure."

"Well, Dennis, only show me the brute, and it shall be a hard case if I
do not make the addition of fat bear to eat with the lean beef, with
which I have already stocked the larder."

I loaded my gun with ball, and in company with Dennis and his father
started for the place where Master Bruin had been seen. I took Neptune
with me a remarkably fine Irish greyhound one of the most powerfully
built dogs of that breed I had ever seen, and well he proved his
strength and courage this day, as you shall hear.

After proceeding nearly two miles in an easterly direction close to the
edge of the beaver meadow,* Neptune suddenly raised his head and looked
round. In the next instant he was dashing along in full chase of Mr.
Bruin, who was making the best of his way up a hill on the opposite
side of the meadow.