The Kadiak Bear and his Home 



are apparently scrupulous in observing each other's 

 rights. In fact, it is dangerous to invade another 

 man's trapping country, as one may spring a Klipse 

 trap set for fox and otter, and receive a dangerous 

 gash from the blade that makes these contrivances 

 so deadly. 



On the way to the hunting grounds Vacille 

 pointed out to us a cliff where he once had an ex- 

 citing bear hunt. 



There were two hunters, and they were fortu- 

 nate enough to locate an inhabited den in early 

 spring. Two bears were killed through crevices 

 in the rocks, but the men suspected there was still 

 one inside, and Vacille crawled in to make sure. 

 He found himself in a fair sized chamber with a 

 bear at the other end, and a lucky shot tumbled the 

 animal at his feet. 



This story brought up others of bear hunting 

 with the lance. Before firearms came into com- 

 mon use, boys were given lessons in fighting the 

 bear with the lance, and became very expert at it. 

 Their method was to approach a bear as closely 

 as possible, without being seen, then show them- 

 selves suddenly, and as the bear reared strike home. 

 The lance was held fast by the native, and the bear 

 was often mortally wounded by forcing the lance 

 into himself in his struggles to reach his enemy. 



259 



