HUNTING AVITII AN UNLOADED GUN. 179 



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succeeded in loading ; but, as I was about to place the 

 copper cap, the horse, who had hitherto stood quite 

 still, seemed inclined to examine the object before him 

 a little closer, and giving a snort he made a step for- 

 ward. Master Bruin, however, did not seem to like 

 this, and with one bound he was in the jungle. Having 

 finished my loading, I slipped off my horse, and crept 

 into the bushes to get a shot, if possible. I may have 

 gone about twenty paces over the dry leaves, when I 

 stood still to listen. Not the slightest sound was to 

 be heard ; though I was firmly convinced that the bear 

 could not be above ten paces off, for the leaves were so 

 dry that if he hud gone further I must have heard it. 

 I raised my foot gently to make another step forward, 

 when the bear, who had been standing so motionless 

 before me that I took him for the root of a fallen tree, 

 almost brushed my face, and took himself off with a 

 growl ; before I could recover from my surprise he hud 

 disappeared. 



I returned, quite disappointed, to my horse, who 

 remained quietly grazing, and rode away with two 

 good resolutions in my head, first, never to go a step 

 with my gun unloaded ; secondly, to seek a nearer 

 acquaintance -with Bruin on the morrow, if possible. 



On the 22nd November, I was early afoot, and 

 although the weather was cold and disagreeable, I set off 

 with a neighbor and eleven dogs, full of joyous 

 hopes. 



Bear-shooting in America differs according to the 

 time, of the year, and the habits of the animal. It 

 was now late in the autumn, almost winter, .-o that 

 they could be hunted with dogs. Well mounted, with 



