upon him, firmly fixing his teeth in the calf of his leg.  Hanging suspended thus until the flesh, insufficient to sustain the weight, gave way, he dropped again to the ground, carrying a portion of flesh in his mouth.  Having greedily devoured this morsel, he bounded again up the opposite tree, and from thence upon Smith, in this manner renewing his attacks, and tearing away the flesh in mouthfuls from his legs.  During this agonizing operation, Smith contrived to cut a limb from the tree, to which he managed to bind his jack-knife, with which he could now assail his enemy at every leap.  He succeeded thus in wounding him so badly that at length his attacks were discontinued, and he finally disappeared in the dense forest.  During the encounter, Smith had exerted his voice to the utmost to alarm the crew, who, he hoped, might be within hail.  He was heard, and in a short time several of the crew reached the place, but not in time to save him from the dreadful encounter.  The sight was truly appalling.  His garments were not only rent from him, but the flesh literally torn from his legs, exposing even the bone and sinews.  It was with the greatest difficulty he made the descent of the tree.  Exhausted through loss of blood, and overcome by fright and exertion, he sunk upon the ground and immediately fainted; but the application of snow restored him to consciousness.  Preparing a litter from poles and boughs, they conveyed him to the camp, washed and dressed his wounds, as well as circumstances would allow, and, as soon as possible, removed him to the settlement, where medical aid was secured.  After a protracted period of confinement, he gradually recovered from his wounds, though still carrying terrible scars, and sustaining irreparable injury.  Such desperate encounters are, however of rare occurrence, though collisions less sanguinary are not infrequent.

BEAR FIGHT.

A sanguinary encounter with bears took place in the vicinity of Tara-height, on the Madawaska river, a few years since: 

“A trap had been set by one of the men, named Jacob Harrison, who, being out in search of a yoke of oxen on the evening in question, saw a young bear fast in the trap, and three others close at hand in a very angry mood, a fact which rendered it necessary for him to make tracks immediately.  On arriving at the farm, he gave the alarm, and, seizing an old dragoon sabre, he was followed to the scene of action by Mr. James Burke, armed with a gun, and the other man with an axe.

“They proceeded direct to the trap, supplied with a rope, intending to take the young bear alive.  It being a short time after dark, objects could not be distinctly seen; but, on approaching close to the scene of action, a crashing among the leaves and dry branches, with sundry other indications, warned them of the proximity of the old animals.  When within a few steps of the spot, a dark mass was seen on the ground—­a growl was heard—­and the confined beast made a furious leap on Jacob, who was in advance, catching him by the legs.  The infuriated animal inflicted a severe wound on his knee, upon which he drew his sword and defended himself with great coolness.