GRIZZLY BEAR-HUNTING. 143 



witli .1 provided apparatus, he lights it, and its l.rilliant 

 flame soon penetrates into the recesses of the cavern — 

 its size of course, rendering the illumination more or less 

 complete. 



The hunter now places himself on his holly, having 

 the candle between the back part of the cave where the 

 bear sleeps, and himself; in this position, with the muz- 

 zle of the rifle protruding out in front of him, he pa- 

 tiently waits for his victim. A short time only elapses 

 before Bruin is aroused by the light. The noise made 

 by his starting from sleep attracts the hunter, and he 

 soon distinguishes the black mass ; moving, stretching, 

 and yawning like a person awaked from a deep sleep. 



The hunter moves not, but prepares his rifle; the 

 bear, finally aroused, turns his head towards the candle, 

 and, with slow and waddling steps, approaches it. 



Now is the time that tries the nerves of the hunter; 

 it is too late to retreat, and his life hangs upon his cer- 

 tain aim and the goodness of his powder. The slightest 

 variation in the bullet, or a flashing pan, and he is a 

 doomed man. 



So tenacious of life is the common black bear, that 

 it is frequently wounded in its most vital parts, and still 

 will escape, or give terrible battle. 



But the grizzly bear seems to possess an infinitely 

 greater tenacity of life. His skin, covered by matted 

 hair, and the huge bones of his body, protect the heart 

 as if incased in a wall ; while the brain is buried in a 



