296 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



view of him in his den, while he calmly returned our 

 gaze, without showing any sign of either fear or hostility ; 

 supposing, no doubt, that his den was impregnable, as the 

 tree in falling had raised several cart-loads of earth on its 

 roots, which time had settled in the shape of a regular 

 mound ; under which he had excavated a cavern several 

 feet in depth, sufficiently large to turn round in and to 

 lodge comfortably. 



A council of war was held forthwith to devise a plan 

 for attacking Bruin. One, proposed by John Stinson, 

 was with the marker's tomahawk and my steel-pointed 

 Jacob staff; but William Stinson, the oldest and most ex- 

 perienced hunter of the party, objected, saying, that from 

 his great size and strength, if the bear was insulted with 

 such puny weapons, he would certainly be the death of 

 Borne of us ; and this plan was abandoned by comYnon 

 consent. What then was to be done ? To leave him 

 undisturbed in his nest was not to be thought of by old 

 hunters. After further hurried consultation, it was 

 agreed that John should go home for his gun and dogs, 

 while the rest remained to keep watch over Bruin's 

 movements. 



Accordingly, John set off at a long trot, while we who 

 remained kindled a fire and patiently waited for his re- 

 turn. In about an hour he gave notice of his approach 

 by a shout, which we promptly answered. He was ac- 

 companied by William McFarland, a neaj neighbor, both 

 on horseback, armed with their trusty rifles, and followed 

 by some half dozen of dogs of known pluck and eager 

 for a row. Our armed heroes, on joining us, hastily dis- 

 mounted and were rejoiced to hear that Cuffey still re- 



