232 A Bear Hunt in the Adirondacks. 



mountain and there awaited much longer than T had 

 promised. 



It is unnecessary to state every incident and every move 

 taken in the chase; I will take a few hours from my 



narrative. 



I had stopped to Bketch a beautiful lake and forest scene, 

 for the chase seemed dull — I had heard nothing of it for 

 some time — when, tar away up the Cundjemonk, echoed 

 the distant cry of the hound. If it came this way Rift 

 hill was much the better place to await; I hurried round 

 the brow of Burnt mountain into the valley and up Rift hill 

 to a spot near the deer yard, where from a stump which 

 occupied the centre of the glade, I commanded a position 

 for many rods around. The Rift was about a rod to my 

 right, and I could have a shot at anything passing through 

 or around it; the only place where it might easily be 

 crossed was near at hand. 



In coming from Burnt mountain I had started a deer 

 from his browse, where he was feeding on the long hanging 

 lichen, Usnea barbata, — improperly moss, — depending from 

 the dead branches of a fallen tree. As I was not prepared 

 he escaped, but in selecting my new stand I kept him in 

 mind, remembering also that our hound being a deer hound 

 might take to the chase of his usual quarry instead of the 

 bear. I seated myself upon the stump and waited: now- 

 glancing toward the vacant deer yard a few rods to my 

 left, now at the great tracks of the bear in the snow at my 

 feet. 



It was noon when I took my new station and the sun 

 bright and warm ; snow birds, blue jays and red squirrels 

 chirped and frisked around. A quarter of an hour passed, 

 then, miles away, I faintly heard the hound on the Pine 

 mountain, toward Oregon, up the Cundjemonk. Once, 

 twice, three times and I heard the dog no more. I waited, 

 listened; half an hour passed; three-quarters — it grew 



