BEAR SHOOTING. 105 



When I had finished my repast, I got up and made my 

 way in an K. S. E. direction. 



As the rain had left off,'I made up to-night for the 

 wakefulness of the last ; when I nwoke the fire had 

 burnt out, and the sun was shining through the hurst- 

 ing buds of the trees. I had a good wash in a 

 neighboring spring, and felt like a giant refreshed. 



After taking my frugal breakfast, the remains of 

 yesterday's meal, I drew more towards the east, in 

 order the sooner to fall in with human being-;, to 

 eat bread, and taste salt. I had occasionally used 

 gunpowder instead of salt, but my store of powder was 

 not sufficient for such a luxury, and it was better to be 

 Avithout salt than without powder. 



Gun on shoulder, I trudged slowly and surely on, 

 over hill and dale, through prairies and forest stream-, 

 towards the sun-rising, taking sharp notice of all 

 around. "While thus proceeding, wrapped in my 

 thoughts, suddenly something rustled in a bush in front 

 of me, and a bear started out and took to flight. My 

 ball was soon in his interior; on being hit he stopped 

 and looked round at me in a fury. Expecting nothing 

 less than an attack, I quietly cocked the other barrel ; 

 but his intentions of attacking me seemed to p;tss oil'. 

 and he crept into a thicket instead. I quickly loaded 

 with ball and followed him : as I approached he retreated 

 slowly, probably suffering from his wound: as soon as 

 I got a clear view of his head, I iired again, but only 

 grazed his skull. AS 1 ran towards him liis fury in- 

 creased, and he turned to meet me; on taking aim 

 with my second barrel at about thirtv paces, it mied 

 lire. With open jaws and ears laid back, he ru>hed 



