BAG MY FIRST BEAR in 



lay down, as the sun was getting warm ; young Bruin at 



once tried to improve the opportunity, and attempted to 



suckle — a hulking beast nearly half-grown ! He got a clip 



on the side of his head from his mother's paw, that sent 



him howling down to the grass, when he again began his 



search for roots. As soon as he wandered out of sight, 



his mother, anxious for her precious child, got up, and 



both gradually worked down the ridge, grubbing up roots 



and eating the tender young grass in damp places. We 



worked down parallel to their course along our ridge, and 



so gradually approached them. At last they crossed over 



to our side, and we slipped down at once, getting within 



fifty yards. The bear had her right side to me, looking 



down hill. I fired, and hit her just behind the shoulder : 



she rushed down the slope of the hill for a few yards, and 



stood for a moment ; the second shot missed her, and off 



she went again. I missed again, but she went very 



groggily now for a short distance, and stood on a rock, 



giving me a fair chance. The fourth shot took her in the 



small ribs on the right side again, and she fell over dead 



into a split in the rock. I could have bagged young 



hopeful too, but spared the rascal in the hope that he 



might give good sport another day. The shikaris were 



very anxious that I should shoot him too ; he deserved 



punishment for betraying his mother, but I stayed my hand. 



The dead bear was sitting bolt upright in the crack, which 



was just the size to hold her body in that position. She 



looked so natural that for a moment I thought she was 



still alive. The stalk took us exactly two and a half 



hours, and it was hard going most of the time— not bad 



work, I felt, for a hungry man, who was just on tlie point 



of attacking his breakfast. It was a beautiful day — 



bright sun, intensely blue sky, with fleecy clouds and a 



delicious breeze — such a contrast to the last three days ! 



