The canoes did not come, however, and knowing that the men must
have had ample time to make the portage, I decided to go down to
the lake. Certainly by the time I reached it they too would be
there, for a thunder-shower was coming.
When only a little way from the summit, I looked down into the
valley and there, quite near where I was to meet the men, I saw
something, which looked like a huge, brown bear, lying down. I
stopped and watched it for a while, hardly knowing what to do. I
had been deceived often, but this was not a mere black spot. It
had definite shape and colour. Though I knew but little about the
habits of bears, it did not seem the thing one would expect of a
bear, to be lying there on the moss and rocks at that time of day.
Still I did not know.
Finally, I concluded that the quickest way to settle the question
was to go and see. I had my revolver, and if it proved a real bear
I would not this time aim "any place; just at the bear." I hurried
on trying to keep the disturbing object in sight, but I could not.
When the valley was reached it was nowhere to be seen, and I
concluded I had again been deceived.
The storm had now come on, and there was still no sign of the
canoes.
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