160 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



inconvenient position for receiving the attack of an en- 

 raged bear. 



After clearing this double passage, we arrived at a 

 spring, which had worn itself a channel of about eigh- 

 teen inches deep, and eight or nine wide. After work- 

 ing our way through another difficult pass, as I was in 

 the act of drawing a long breath, I heard a deep growl 

 very near me. Although I had been listening for this 

 sound every foot of the way for several hours, yet, on 

 heaving it so suddenly and so close, I was rather star- 

 tled, and nearly let fall the torch ; but quickly recover- 

 ing, and raising the torch as high as possible, to the dis- 

 comfort and horror of several innocent bats, I could 

 make out Mrs. Bruin, about ten yards off, sitting up- 

 right, gnashing her teeth, digging into the ground with 

 her sharp claws, and apparently in the worst possible 

 humor. 



Young Conwell, who. was close behind me, laid his 

 hand lightly on my foot, and whispered that he heard 

 the bear. As I had obtained this intelligence for myself, 

 I whispered to him to be quiet, and creeping forward a 

 couple of paces, I came to a place from whence I thought I 

 could fire with effect. I placed my right foot in the 

 channel of the stream, raised myself as well as I could 

 on my left knee, and brought up the rifle. Young Con- 

 well, who was anxiously watching all my motions, whis- 

 pered me for God's sake to aim carefully, for if I made 

 a bad shot we were both done for. Although I was 

 nearer the danger than he was, I would not have changed 

 places with him, as he could not see what was going on, 

 and must naturally fear the worst j and in such cases, it 



