86 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



or it indicates the d 1 bfar that was ever grown.' In 



fact, stranger, I couldn't believe it was real, and I went 

 on. Again I saw the same marks, at the same height, 

 and / knew the thing lived. That conviction came 

 home to my soul like an earthquake. 



" Says I, ' Here is something a-purpose for me : that 

 bear is mine, or I give up the hunting business.' The 

 very next morning, what should I see but a number of 

 buzzards hovering over my corn-field. ' The rascal has 

 been there,' said I, ' for that sign is certain :' and, sure 

 enough, on examining, I found the bones of what had 

 been as beautiful a hog the day before, as was ever 

 raised by a Buckeye. Then I tracked the critter out 

 of the field to the woods, and all the marks he left be- 

 hind, showed me that he was the bear. 



" Well, stranger, the first fair chase I ever had with 

 that big critter, I saw him no less than three distinct 

 times at a distance : the dogs run him over eighteen 

 miles and broke down, my horse gave out, and I was as 

 nearly used up as a man can be, made on my principle, 

 which is patent. 



" Before this adventure, such things nvere unknown 

 to me as possible ; but, strange as it was, that bear 

 got me used to it before I was done with him ; for he 

 got so at last, that he would leave me on a long chase 

 quite easy. How he did it, I never could understand. 



" That a bear runs at all, is puzzling ; but how this 

 one could tire down and bust up a pack of hounds 



