American Big Game in its Haunts 



excellent chance to distinguish all tracks. Such 

 were the grounds which I had been watching for 

 over a month whenever the wind was favorable. 



The sun was just topping the long hill to our 

 right as we reached our elevated watching place. 

 The glasses were at once in use, and soon an ex- 

 clamation from one of my natives told me that new 

 tracks were seen. There they were — two long un- 

 broken lines leading down from the mountain on 

 our right, across the valley, and up and out of 

 sight over the ridge to our left. It seemed as if 

 two bears had simply wandered across our front, 

 and crossed over the range of mountains into the 

 bay beyond. 



As soon as my hunters saw these tracks they 

 turned to me, and, with every confidence, said : "I 

 guess catch." Now, it must be remembered that 

 these tracks led completely over the mountains to 

 our left, and it was the most beautiful bit of hunt- 

 ing on the part of my natives to know that these 

 bears would turn and swing back into the valley 

 ahead. To follow the tracks, which were well up 

 in the heart of our shooting grounds, would give 

 our wind to all the bears that might be lurking 

 there, and this my hunters knew perfectly well, yet 

 they never hesitated for one moment, but started 

 ahead with every confidence. 



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