with Gun ^ Rod in Canada 



chance and run fer that big beech, right by the pole 

 bridge. To say I dumb the tree don't exactly express 

 it. I swarmed up like a monkey on a stick. With me 

 safely up the tree the old bitch called her cubs, and all 

 three sat right down to lunch. The only things they 

 didn't eat were the basket, the blankets and tools. 

 A cub started to play with a sharp chisel. I suppose he 

 liked the way the firelight shone upon it. He must have 

 cut himself, for he dropped it with a yelp. When he 

 hollered the old bear let a growl out of her and made a 

 rush for my tree. I dumb so darn high that I come 

 near having to start all over again. She only came up 

 a little ways, and then slid down to take care of her cubs. 

 She hung around with those cubs till daylight, and then 

 went grumbling down the road, and I dumb down — 

 and here I be." 



During this recital Pat's audience had grown until 

 all hands and the cook were included. After expressing 

 due sympathy we told Pat our own experiences with the 

 bear, and then offered to fit him out so he could con- 

 tinue his journey. 



" Thanks, men, but the repairs on the shack can wait. 

 I'm goin' bear-huntin'." 



" Do you want any help ?" we asked. 



" The more the merrier," he invited. " Only as 

 I'm goin' to supply the experience and the dogs, the 

 bounty ought to be mine and the hide, too." 



We readily agreed to this, and I told Ralph to drive 

 him home to get his dogs. They were back by noon 

 with four dilapidated but experienced-looking hounds. 



Right after lunch Pat put the dogs on the bears' 

 tracks while we climbed up on the roof with Pat to 

 listen. In twenty minutes the dogs were baying in 

 good shape. Once they got nearly out of hearing, and 

 then came booming down within half a mile of camp. 



44 



