The Happy Hooligan 125 



the most farcical exhibitions I ever saw. This old bear 

 (Kerfoot declared her to be an old maid that had 

 married late in life) was evidently used to going down 

 that particular trail and wasn't going to change her 

 habits on account of any interlopers. But at the 

 same time she was afraid to pass the tree with us in it. 

 She would come on a few steps and then back off 

 again. Then she would wander up and down in the 

 most undecided and worried way, grumbling and 

 growling to herself. Finally she sat down and fairly 

 cried — moaning and whining like a spoiled child. All 

 the while the cub kept running ahead and then turning 

 round to look back, as much as to say, ^^Come on, 

 it's all right. What's the matter with you to-night?'' 

 And, of course, all the time the whole Rocky Mountains 

 was open to her to go round by. Once she went back 

 the way she came and we thought we were rid of her. 

 But she came back again and recommenced the per- 

 formance. Then I got down and drove her off. 



Black Bear are found pretty generally in grizzly coun- 

 tries except in places where the grizzlies are very 

 plenty, and now that they are all scarce they cover 

 the same ranges almost everywhere. In the early 

 nineties, in the Selkirks in British Columbia, I never 

 saw a Black Bear. Now, however, although the 

 grizzlies are still as plentiful there as anywhere, the 

 Black Bear are numerous. But the Black fellows are 

 mighty careful never to get in the grizzlies' way. I 



