Big Game in the Rockies 



chilled to the bone, seemed impossible. It 

 was most unlikely the other bears would come 

 back; however, thinking it would be prudent 

 to stay aloft a little while longer, I made up 

 my mind to stick it out another half hour. 

 During this wait I fancied I could see shad- 

 owy forms moving about, and I could surely 

 hear a cub squalling. The light was now a 

 little better, and the darkness, though still 

 very black, was not so intense. 



Just as I had screwed up courage to de- 

 scend, another bear came up under the tree 

 and reared up. This time I made no mistake, 

 and almost simultaneously with the rifle's re- 

 port a hoarse bawl proved to me that I had 

 conquered. Glad at almost any cost to get 

 out of my cramped position I sung out to 

 Woody to lend a hand, as I proposed de- 

 scending, and as he came up I came down, 

 and then we discussed the situation. The 

 proximity of the wounded bear was not pleas- 

 ant, but then the dead one must be opened 

 in order to save the skin. But what if the 

 latter were not dead ? Hang this night- work ! 

 why can't the bears stick to daylight! But to 

 work, — there was the motionless form to be 



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