However, when  I  recovered,  judge  of  my  surprise  at  finding  one  of  the two  monsters  had  turned  me  upon  my  face,  and  was  just  laying hold  of  the  waistband  of  my  breeches,  which  were  then  new and  made  of  leather,  I  know  not  whither  the  brute  would have  dragged  me,  had  I  lost  my  presence  of  mind ;  I  drew  my knife — this  very  knife,  gentlemen — made  a  chop  at  one  of  his hind-feet,  and  cut  off  three  of  his  toes ;  he  immediately  let  me drop,  and  roared  most  horridly.  I  took  up  my  carbine  and  fired at  him  as  he  ran  off ;  he  fell  directly.  The  noise  of  my  piece, however,  roused  several  thousands  of  his  companions,  who  were asleep  upon  the  ice,  in  a  radius  of  half  a  mile.  They  all  came rushing  at  me  at  the  top  of  their  speed.  There  was  no  time  to be  lost.  It  would  have  been  all  over  with  me,  had  not  a  sudden and  a  brilliant  idea  come  into  my  head.  I  took  off  the  skin and  head  of  the  dead  bear  in  half  the  time  that  some  people would  be  in  skinning  a  rabbit,  and  wrapped  myself  in  it,  placing my  own  head  directly  under  Bruin's.  I  had  scarcely  finished my  preparations  when  the  whole  herd  came  round  me.  I  confess that  I  felt,  under  my  pelisse  of  furs,  alternations  of  heat  and  cold; however,  my  scheme  turned  out  a  most  admirable  one  for  my  own safety.  They  all  came  smelling,  and  evidently  took  me  for  a brother  Bruin  ;  I  wanted  nothing  but  bulk  to  make  an  excellent counterfeit :  although  I  saw  several  cubs  amongst  them  not  much larger  than  myself.  After  they  had  smelt  at  me  sufficiently,  and at  the  body  of  their  deceased  companion,  we  soon  became  on  very familiar  terms.  I  found  I  could  imitate  exactly  all  their  gestures and  movements  ;  but  as  far  as  growling  and  roaring,  I  am bound  to  confess  that  they  were  my  superiors.  Still,  for  all that  I  appeared  to  be  a  bear,  I  was  not  the  less  a  man.  I began  to  look  out  for  the  best  method  of  turning  to  my  own advantage  the  intimacy  that  had  sprung  up  between  these  animals and  myself.

- Chapter 14