I  had  heard  an  old  regimental  surgeon  in  former  days  say that  death  may  be  caused  instantaneously  by  making  an  incision through  the  spinal  marrow.  I  determined  to  try.  I  drew  my knife,  and  selecting  the  largest  bear  I  could  see,  I  drove  it  into his  spine,  between  the  shoulders.  It  was  a  bold  stroke,  and  I had  good  reason  for  feeling  uneasy ;  for  supposing  the  beast to  survive  the  wound,  it  was  all  over  with  me — I  should  be torn  in  pieces  to  a  certainty.  Happily  my  experiment  succeeded — the  bear  fell  dead  at  my  feet  without  a  struggle. After  this I  had  no  difficulty  in  settling  the  others  in  the  same  way; for  though  they  saw  their  brothers  and  sisters  falling  around them,  they  seemed  to  be  free  from  all  suspicion,  and  not  to give  a  thought  to  the  cause  of  the  fall  of  each  of  these unhappy  individuals — an  indifference  which  was  my  security.

- Chapter 14