"Well, sir, that old brute had put so much glad an' earnest energy into
its kick that it knocked the wind plum out of every one of us, an' for
the next few seconds there was a mess of arms an' legs an' tails
frantically tryin' to disentangle themselves. But, as good luck would
have it, I went down upon the gun. As I rose to my feet, I slipped a
cap on the nipple just as the bear comes chargin' around the fire
facing us. I ups an' lets him have it full in the mouth. The shot
nearly stunned him. While he was clawin' the pain in his face I had
time to re-load, an' lets him have it behind the ear, an' he drops dead
without a whimper.

"Then--would you believe it?--the Archdeacon goes up to the shaggy
carcass, puts his foot on the bear's head, an' stands there lookin' for
all the world like British Columbia discoverin' America, an' says:

"'There, now, Billy Brass, I hope you have learned a lesson. Next time
you will know where to place your trust.'

"Well, sir, the way he was lettin' on that he had saved the whole
outfit made me mad. So I ups an' says:

"'Yes, sir, an' if I hadn't put me trust in me gun, there would have
been another Archdeacon in heaven.'"


THE TRUTH ABOUT WOODSMEN

It was now growing late. For a while the smiling Indians, half-breeds,
and white men smoked in silence; then one after another, each knocked