He therefore placed his paw down into the contents of the cooler, but, although the surface of the liquor was cool, the lower part was still scalding hot, and he had not put his paw in for a moment, when he withdrew it with a loud roar, rearing up and sitting upon his hind legs, and throwing his burnt paw in the air. "I said so," observed Malachi, chuckling; "he has found it hotter than he expected." John, Alfred, and Martin burst out laughing at the sight; and even Mrs Campbell and the two girls could not help being amused. "He'll try it again," said Martin. "Yes, that he will," replied Malachi. "John, be all ready with your rifle, for the brute has seen us." "Why, he won't come this way, will he?" exclaimed Mrs Campbell. "Yes, ma'am, that he most likely will when he is angry; but you need not fear." "But I'm afraid, Malachi," said Mary. "Then perhaps you had better go about fifty yards back with Mr Campbell, where you will see the whole without danger. There he goes to it again; I knew he would." Martin, who had got all the dogs collected together and fast by a piece of deer's-hide, as soon as they had discovered the bear, went back with Mr and Mrs Campbell and the girls. "You need have no fear, ma'am," said Martin; "the rifles won't miss their mark, and, if they did, I have the dogs to let loose upon him; and I think Oscar, with the help of the others, would master him. Down-- silence, Oscar--down, dogs, down. Look at the Strawberry, ma'am, she's not afraid, she's laughing like a silver bell." During this interval the bear again applied to the cooler, and burnt himself as before; and this time, being more angry, he now gave another roar, and, as if considering that the joke had been played upon him by the party who were looking on, he made directly for them at a quick run. "Now, John," said Malachi, "get your bead well on him, right between his eyes." John kneeled down in front of Malachi, who had his rifle all ready. Much to the horror of Mrs Campbell, John permitted the bear to come within twenty yards of him. He then fired, and the animal fell dead without a struggle. "A good shot, and well put in," said Malachi, going up to the bear. "Let the dogs loose, Martin, that they may worry the carcase; it will do them good." Martin did so; the dogs were permitted to pull and tear at the dead animal for a few minutes, and then taken off; in the mean time, Mr Campbell and the ladies had come up to where the animal lay. "Well, ma'am, isn't John a cool shoot?" said Malachi. "Could the oldest hunter have done better?" "My dear John, you quite frightened me," said Mrs Campbell; "why did you allow the beast to come so near to you?" "Because I wanted to kill him dead, and not wound him," replied John. "To be sure," replied Malachi; "to wound a bear is worse than leaving him alone."