No notice was taken of this fact for some time, until suddenly Black Tom became suspicious and called his name. Receiving no response, he exclaimed, to old Stebbins: “Bufflers and Blackfeet! he’s goin’ to sleep!” “If he does he’s gone, sure. Wake him up!” “Teddy! Teddy!” called Tom, “wake up, or you never will.” “Aoogh! what--” Too late. The Irishman, in his bewilderment, did not comprehend his perilous position, and making an uneasy movement, lost his hold and fell! And fell in such a manner that he struck full length upon the back of the frightful brute! A shudder of horror shook the trappers, as they looked down upon what they regarded the certain death of their comrade, who gave a shriek of terror as he rolled like a log helpless to the ground. The brute started, uttered his sharp, bark-like cry, and then bolted away and vanished in the darkness, without offering to harm the man who lay helpless at his feet. “Begorra! but he’s a gintleman, as Micky Dunn obsarved of the man that cracked his crown. That’s the sicind time he’s give me the go-by, and the nixt time he does it we’ll shake hands and swear we’re friends.” “It beats thunder!” exclaimed old Stebbins, who was now prepared to believe Teddy’s account of his extraordinary meeting with this animal. “It can’t be that he don’t eat men,” said Black Tom, “for Stumpy Sam said he see’d it chaw up one of their men.” “I guess he don’t like Irishmen.” “It’s meself that thinks he does,” retorted Teddy, “for he’s tr’ated me like a gintleman all the way through.” “Ain’t yer going to climb up ag’in?” asked Tom. “What’s the use, when it’s more comfortable here, as Micky McFee remarked when he was axed to come out of the gutter.” The Irishman made no attempt to re-climb the tree, although he looked carefully about in every direction in quest of the dreaded creature. Some fifteen minutes passed and nothing was seen or heard of their dreaded foe, when the hunters, who were excessively hungry, cautiously descended to the ground again. The first thing done was to replenish the fire, and they determined that if the brute should reappear, they would try the effect of dashing some of the brands in his face. The next proceeding was to attack the provisions which Teddy had brought back with him, and with such ravenous appetites, they were not long in “throwing themselves outside” of an immense quantity of food. By this time night was well advanced, but there was no thought of sleep upon the part of any one, excepting Teddy O’Doherty. He had acted as sentinel the night before, and soon became drowsy and stupid. As he was entitled to rest, he was permitted to stretch out near the fire, with his blanket gathered about him, when he speedily sunk off into utter unconsciousness.