DEATH OF THE MOOSE COW 77 



where the old she-bear had holed up for the winter. 

 She had denned early, owing to weather conditions, 

 unwitting that the spot selected for her long drowse 

 was well known to the settlement, who marked it 

 down to a man. At the right time, led by a 

 trapper of experience, a small party induced the 

 bear to come forth and meet her end at the muzzle 

 of a ready rifle. Inside the cave were two cubs, of 

 which the smaller died at once for lack of the Swiss 

 milk Sadie could hardly afford for one. 



Wise beyond his years, the cub commenced 

 nosing round the corral looking for a place in 

 which to hole up as soon as the nights grew colder, 

 regardless of the fact that the little space offered no 

 shelter or dens at all. A pile of leafless scrub 

 bushes cast in for Moosewa's use attracted him, 

 and therein the fat bear secreted himself, and after 

 the first fall of snow slept serenely, betraying his 

 presence by a thin jet of steam, which arose from 

 a tiny yellowish hole in the centre of the rounded 

 sanctuary. As this melted to larger proportions 

 under the influence of the deep breather within, 

 more snow came down, and yet another fall, until 

 at last, heavily covered, Bruin's hibernating place 

 ceased to be noticeable. 



