Something had evidently irritated the brute considerably, for his whole appearance was characteristic of unrestrained ferocity.
I dragged the panting fugitive from the water and, without asking any questions, advanced to the bank of the stream and prepared to take aim.
Whether my gentleman had at some period of his life been so closely associated with the barrel of a sporting-rifle that he understood the significance of my movement, I know not; but certain it is that as soon as I raised the weapon, the bear first of all reared himself on his hind quarters, displaying his long narrow muzzle adorned with an assortment of ugly fangs, and then uttering a loud noise, curiously resembling the heavy breathing of a human being, he fell down on all-fours and retreated behind a convenient boulder, over the top of which his little eyes gleamed fiercely every now and again.
The woman, who proved to be the wife of the innkeeper at whose "hotel" I was sojourning, was shivering with the cold, and her wet garments were rapidly congealing in the keen frosty air.

Her little girl was crying pitifully with the cold and fright.
It was a question whether I should remain and finish off Bruin or hurry my companions homeward at a fast trot.

I decided to adopt the latter course.
"The bear can wait," I said, as I turned away; "I'll settle him another day." We turned our steps in the direction of the camp, and for some distance walked in silence.

Then of a sudden a plaintive moan from the child reminded me that the wee mite and her mother, soaked with wet, were, in the cutting air, rapidly assuming the condition of living icicles.
Fortunately I had a flask with me, and, telling the exhausted and shivering woman to sit down, I rested my rifle against a stump of a tree and proceeded to prepare a dose of brandy, at the same time cheering her with words of encouragement.
"We are not far from home now," I said, "and--" I did not finish the sentence, for a movement behind caused me to turn round.

To my utter astonishment and horror I found myself face to face with my old friend, or rather enemy.