A Bear Hunt in the Adirondacks. 233 



tiresome ; I felt inclined to start up and be doing, but I 

 had lost an elk the previous fall by leaving the runway 

 before the dog came in and — I sat down again. 



Another quarter of an hour. I was leaning drowsily for- 

 ward my rifle on my lap, — listening intently, however, — 

 when I thought I heard a faint distant tramp far down the 

 mountain. 



I sat up. Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump, JUMP, JUMP 

 JUMP, JUMP, JUMP, JUMP! something came up 

 the mountain on a long swinging canter. I heard it crash 

 through the bushes, descend into the Rift and ascend, 

 and, though hidden by some hemlocks, come directly 

 towards me still at a canter. My rifle was at my shoulder 

 and sighted, and I could not rest my left elbow on my 

 breast for my heart thumped audibly. Another moment, 

 and he would clear the bushes that screened him from 

 view — No! he had stopped suddenly, and all was silent 

 for one long minute. Then there was a slow, dubious whine, 

 followed by a snuffing and snorts — so peculiar,' so wild — 

 that told me I was in the presence of the untamed savage, 

 scarce five rods of the forest glade between him and me. 



The snowy woods were bright as ever; the snow-birds 

 still chirping and fluttering among the tall evergreens; 

 could there be a bear behind those hemlocks where my 

 rifle aimed ? 



Another whine, another series of snorts, having expres- 

 sion in them like articulate language. There was doubt, 

 indecision, anger, surprise! hesitancy — he would be off! 

 Aiming a little lower I guessed his position behind the 

 hemlocks, sighted carefully and fired. 



"With the explosion came a shrill scream of agony — hu- 

 man, though bestial — it almost unnerved me. No animal 

 that I had shot before gave such a cry ; had I mistaken ? 

 The expressions Oh ! Oh! Oh! Whew, Whew, WHEW! 



[ Trans. vi.~\ 30 , 



