Just as the bear reached the edge of this little jungle it was struck by several balls, both of its forelegs being broken.

Nevertheless, it managed to shove itself forward on its hind-legs, and partly rolled, partly pushed itself into the thicket, the bushes though low being so dense that its body was at once completely hidden.

The thicket was a mere patch of brush, not twenty yards across in any direction.

The leading troopers reached the edge almost as the bear tumbled in.

One of them, a tall and powerful man named Miller, instantly dismounted and prepared to force his way in among the dwarfed willows, which were but breast-high.