The next thing in order was to transport him to our boats.  This was done by tying his feet together, then running a long pole, cut for the purpose, between them, and lifting each end upon the shoulder of a boatman, he was “strung up,” as Allen expressed it, clear from the ground.  They stumbled along as best they could, over the rough ground, and through the tangle brush, towards the river.  It was a heavy load considering the unevenness of the path, and the men were compelled to halt every few rods to breathe.  We got him safely to the landing at last, and tumbling him into the bottom of one of the boats, started down stream towards our shanty.  A proud trio were Spalding, Smith, and the Doctor that afternoon, returning with their game across the lake; and they certainly had some occasion to congratulate themselves, for this was the first wild, uncaged bear either of us had ever seen, and him they had succeeded in capturing.

We dined that afternoon on a roasted sirloin of bear, stewed jerked venison, fried trout, and pork.  I cannot say that I altogether relished the roast, though some of our company took to it hugely.  The truth is, that with some of them venison and trout were beginning to be somewhat stale dishes, they did not relish fat pork, and a change therefore to roasted bear meat was peculiarly acceptable.

“Gentlemen,” said Smith to the Doctor and Spalding, as we sat after our meal, enjoying our pipes, “what say you to selling out your interest in that bear?  If you’re open for a bargain, I’ll make you a proposition.”

“Why,” the Doctor replied, “there’ll be nothing left but the skin, and that will be of no special value except as a trophy.”

“Not exactly,” resumed Smith.  “I’ll deal frankly with you, gentlemen.  There’ll be a good many stories to be told about the killing of that bear, and my object is to appropriate the glory of the achievement.  Now it wont be a matter to boast of, to say that we three fired into one bear, and that none of the largest.”

“Oh! as to that,” said the Doctor, “I intend to enlarge upon the subject, exaggerating the size of the bear, describing the terrible conflict I had with him, how I happened to save myself by remembering my double-barrelled pistol; how I made the three ball holes in him, while you and Spalding were running away, and how he bit me in the arm, and almost hugged me to death, while I was trying to get at the pistol.  I shall shine in that bear story!  Yes! yes!  I shall shine!”

“Hear the cormorant!” exclaimed Smith.  “Hear him!  And he’ll do precisely as he says he will, only a great deal worse.  We must buy him out, Spalding.  We must purchase his silence for our own credit.”

“Well, gentlemen,” replied Spalding, “settle it between you—­you are welcome to my share of the achievement.  The scream of mortal agony which that bear sent up when our three balls went crashing through its body rings in my ears yet.  I don’t feel quite so proud of the shot as I otherwise should have done.  You are welcome to my share of the glory.”