GRIZZLY BEAR-HUNTING. 141 



two, tlie cave is never entered. The size of the bear is 

 also thus known, ami the time since he was last in search 

 of food. 



The way that this knowledge is obtained, from indi- 

 cations so slight, or unseen to an ordinary eye, is one 

 of the greatest mysteries of the woods. 



Placinff ourselves at the mouth of the cave contain- 

 ing a grizzly bear, to our untutored senses, there would 

 be nothing to distinguish it from one that is unoccupied ; 

 but let some Diana of the forest touch our cya^, and 

 give us the instinct of sight possessed by the hunter, 

 and we would argue thus : 



'' From all the marks about the mouth of the cave, 

 the occupant has not been out for a great length of time, 

 for the grass and the cartli have not been lately dis- 

 turbed. 



" The bear is in the cave, for the last tracks made 

 are with the toe-marks towards it. 



'- There is but one bear, because the tracks are reg- 

 ular and of the same size. 



" He is a large animal; the length of tlie step and 

 the size of the paw indicate this. 



"And he is fat, because his hind feet do not step in 

 the impressions made by the fore ones, as is always the 

 ease with a lean bear." 



Such are the signs and arguments that present them- 

 selves to the hunter; and mysterious as they seem, 

 when not understood, when once explained, they strike 



