170 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



fast asleep. Passing a sharp turn in the cave, we dis- 

 covered him at our feet, and, as my comrade had stated, 

 fast asleep, his head between his paws, uttering a low 

 monotonous whine. Erskine set the muzzle of the rifle 

 to the back of his head, and fired ; he gave a convulsive 

 start, and lay dead. I probed the wound with my fore 

 finger to see how far the ball had penetrated ; the rifle 

 threw a ball of twenty- two to the pound ; the skull was 

 completely shattered. 



We now decided on getting out of the cave for a little 

 repose and refreshment, and to await the Conwells. We 

 found them sitting by the fire, and young Conwell offered 

 at once to take the cord and fasten it round the bear's 

 neck, and try and pull him out alone. Lighting one of 

 the candles, he soon disappeared in the cave. They had 

 examined several other caves, but had not found any 

 more signs. Extraordinary to relate, we had not seen a 

 single deer during the course of our hunt ; x the forest 

 seemed deserted, excepting by a bear or two in the caves, 

 and a very few turkeys. 



We had rested and talked ftfr about half an hour, when 

 young Conwell reappeared without the bear, having found 

 it too heavy, and requiring help. We went, one and all, 

 taking fresh torches with us, to the scene of action, and 

 dragged him out, though with considerable difficulty, as 

 many parts of the route were ill-adapted for the trans- 

 port of such a mass of flesh. Lying down by the fire, 

 we slept comfortably till late next morning. It was near 

 noon ere we could tear ourselves away from our couches 

 of soft leaves, but as we all agreed that we must move 

 sooner or later, we got up, loaded the horses with our 



