"The maddened brute approached, growling and gnashing his teeth, and with a savage spring encircled the body of the hunter and the tree in his iron gripe. The next moment the flashing blade of the _couteau chasse_ tore his abdomen, and his smoking entrails rolled upon the ground. At this exciting crisis of the struggle, the other man, accompanied by the dog, came up in time to witness the triumphal close of the conflict. "Two old bears and a cub were the fruits of this dangerous adventure--all extremely fat--the largest of which, it is computed, would weigh upward of two hundred and fifty pounds. We have seldom heard of a more dangerous encounter with bears, and we are happy to say that Mr. Burke received no injury; and Mr. Jacob Harrison, although torn severely, and having three ribs broken, recovered under the care of an Indian doctor of the Algonquin tribe." CHAPTER VII. Provision Teams.--Liabilities.--A Night in the Woods.--Traveling on Ice.--A Span of Horses lost.--Pat's Adventure.--Drogers' Caravan.-- Horses in the Water.--Recovery of a sunken Load.--Returning Volunteers from Aroostook.--Description of a Log Tavern.--Perils on Lakes in Snow-storms.--Camping at Night.--Rude Ferry-boats. After the swamps, rivers, and lakes freeze, and the fallen snow has covered the ground, supplies for the rest of the winter and spring operations, consisting of hay, grain, flour, beef, pork, molasses, &c., are hauled on to the ground with horse-teams. In some instances the route extends two hundred and fifty miles from the head of ship navigation. As these routes, for the most part, lay through dense forests, over rough roads, along the frozen channels of rivers, across bleak and expansive lakes, far removed from the fireside and home of the hardy logger, there is something of the _hardships_ of adventure, if not its romance, connected with the experience of these transporting teams during their winter trips.