As to going away, it was a thing he would
not think of, as long as his rifle was loaded; so he waited and watched,
until the bear should give him an opportunity of aiming at a vital part.
This he waited for in vain, and, on reflection, he determined to wound
the bear: for, knowing the humour of the animal, he felt almost positive
it would produce a conflict between him and the boar, which the bear
would attack in his wrath. He fired; the bear was evidently wounded,
although but slightly, and he began roaring and scratching his neck in a
most furious manner, and looking vindictively at the boar, which, at the
report of the rifle, had merely raised his head for a moment, and then
resumed his meal. Bruin was certainly persuaded that the wound he had
received had been inflicted by the beast below. He made up his mind to
punish him, and, to spare the trouble and time of descending, dropped
from the tree, and rushed upon the boar, which met him at once, and,
notwithstanding Bruin's great strength, he proved to him that a ten
years' old wild boar, with seven-inch tusks, was a very formidable
antagonist. Bruin soon felt the tusks of the boar ripping him up; ten
or twelve streams of blood were rushing from his sides, yet he did not
give way; on the contrary, he grew fiercer and fiercer, and at last the
boar was almost smothered under the huge paws of his adversary.
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