218 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



to make several attempts to descend: but each attempt, 

 aroused my ursine sentinel; and after many ineffectual 

 efforts, I was obliged to remain there during the rest of 

 the night. I fixed myself in that part of the trunk 

 from which the principal grand branches forked, and 

 which prevented me from falling during my fitful slum- 

 bers. 



On the morning of the 27th, a little after sunrise, the 

 bear quitted the trunk, shook himself, "cast a longing, 

 lingering look" towards me, and slowly disappeared in 

 search of his morning repast. After waiting some time, 

 apprehensive of his return, I descended and resumed 

 my journey through the woods, in a north-northeast 

 direction. In a few hours, all my anxiety of the pre- 

 ceding night was more than compensated, by falling in 

 with a well-beaten horse-path, with fresh traces on it, 

 both of hoofs and human feet; it lay through a clear 

 open wood, in a northeast course, in which I observed 

 numbers of small deer. About six in the evening, I 

 arrived at a spot where a party must have slept the pre- 

 ceding night. Round the remains of a large fire which 

 was still burning, were scattered several half-picked 

 bones of grouse, partridges, and ducks, all of which I 

 collected with economical industry. After devouring 

 the flesh, I broiled the bones. The whole scarcely 

 sufficed to give me a moderate meal, but yet afforded a 

 most seasonable relief to my famished body. I enjoyed 

 a comfortable sleep this night, close to the fire, uninter- 

 rupted by any nocturnal visiter ; On the morning of the 

 28th, I set off with cheerful spirits, fully impressed with 

 the hope of a speedy termination to my sufferings. My 



