LESSON 45 AN ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR

AN ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR

I

[Two friends, a young artist called Gerard and a soldier named Denys, are travelling on foot through Germany about the middle of the fifteenth century, when they meet with the following adventure.]

One day, as Gerard was walking like one in a dream, thinking of home, and scarce seeing the road he trod, his companion laid a hand on his shoulder, and strung his crossbow [1] with glittering eye. "Hush!" said he, in a low whisper that startled Gerard more than thunder.

Gerard grasped his axe tight, and shook a little. He heard a rustling in the wood hard by, and at the same moment Denys sprang into the wood, and his crossbow went to his shoulder. Twang! went the metal string; and after an instant's suspense he roared, "Run forward! guard the road! He is hit! he is hit!"

Gerard darted forward, and as he ran a young bear burst out of the wood right upon him. Finding the way blocked, it reared upon its hindlegs with a snarl, and, though not half-grown, opened formidable jaws and long claws. Gerard, in a fury of excitement, flung himself on it, and delivered a tremendous blow on its nose with his axe, and the creature staggered; another, and it lay grovelling [2] , with Gerard hacking it.

Hallo! stop! cried Denys, "you are mad to spoil the meat."

I took it for a robber, said Gerard, panting. "I mean, I had made ready for a robber, so I could not hold my hand."

Ay, those chattering travellers have stuffed your head full of thieves and murderers. Nay, I'll carry the beast; bear thou my crossbow.

We will carry it by turns, then, said Gerard, "for 'tis a heavy load. Poor thing, how its blood drips! Why did we slay it?"

For supper, and the reward which the bailie [3] of the next town will give us.

GERARD FLUNG HIMSELF ON THE YOUNG BEAR

They had gone some distance along the road when Gerard's ear was attracted by a sound behind him. It was a peculiar sound, too, like something heavy, but not hard, rushing softly over the dead leaves. He turned round with some little curiosity. A huge creature was coming down the road at about sixty paces distance.

He looked at it in a sort of calm stupor [4] at first, but the next moment he turned ashy pale.

Denys! he cried.

Denys whirled round.

It was a bear! It was tearing along with its huge head down, running on a hot scent.

The very moment he saw it, Denys said in a sickening whisper,

The Cub!

Oh the horror of that one word, whispered hoarsely, with staring eyes! For in that syllable it all flashed upon them both like a sudden stroke of lightning in the dark— the trail of blood, the murdered cub, the mother upon them.

All this in a moment of time. The next, she saw them. Huge as she was, she seemed to double herself (it was her long hair bristling with rage). She raised her head big as a bull's, her jaws opened wide at them, her eyes turned to blood and flame, and she rushed upon them, scattering the leaves about her like a whirlwind as she came.

Shoot! screamed Denys, but Gerard stood shaking from head to foot, useless.

Shoot, man! shoot! Alas! too late! Tree! tree! He dropped the cub, pushed Gerard across the road, and flew to the first tree and climbed it, Gerard doing the same on his side.

With all their speed, one or other would have been torn to fragments at the foot of his tree; but the bear stopped a moment at the cub.

Without taking her bloodshot eyes off those she was hunting, she smelt it all round, and found that it was dead —quite dead. She gave a yell such as neither of the hunted ones had ever heard, and flew after Denys. She reared and struck at him as he climbed. He was just out of reach.

Instantly she seized the tree, and with her huge teeth tore a great piece out of it with a crash. Then she reared again, dug her claws deep into the bark, and began to mount it slowly, but as surely as a monkey.

* * *

[1] crossbow: A bow fired by turning a handle.

[2] grovelling: Lying helpless.

[3] bailie: An officer of the law, bailiff.

[4] stupor: Insensibility; sleep-like condition.