TJie Home of the Wolverene and Beavc?: 2il 



snow, we were fully accoutred, and with a gun and 

 a pair of choice hounds, started on what we con- 

 ceived our second bear hunt. Before reaching the 

 spot where the tracks had been observed, however, 

 we met a fresh trail of the previous night, and pur- 

 sued it without loss of time. The animal had 

 joined some foxes which were feeding on a dead 

 horse not a hundred yards from a log cabin in the 

 forest, and after having satiated itself with this 

 delicate food, made directly for the Hoosack River, 

 pursuing the same course along which we had 

 formerly traced it. To our surprise it did not cross 

 the river, now firmly bound with ice, but retired to 

 its burrow, which was not far from the place where 

 we had a few weeks before abandoned the pursuit 

 of it. The hounds had not once broke into full ciy 

 upon the track, but no sooner had they arrived at 

 the mouth of the burrow than they rushed into the 

 large opening between the rocks, and commenced a 

 furious attack on the animal within. This lasted 

 but for a few moments, and they camiC out as 

 quickly as they had entered. They showed some 

 evidence of having been exposed to sharp clav.'s 

 and teeth, and although they had been only a 

 moment engaged in battle, had no disposition to 

 renew it. No effort of ours could induce them to 

 re-enter the cavern, whilst their furious barking at 



