318 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



cold for the dogs besides, they would hardly venture 

 to swim, and we also must have remained on the hank. 



I changed my course to cut him off, and luckily hit 

 upon one of the cattle tracks that cross the wood in all 

 directions. Once clear of the thorns, we went at a good 

 pace, and soon heard the pack approaching. Suddenly 

 the horse swerved to one side with a snort, and the hear 

 hurst out of the thicket. The moment he saw the horse, 

 he stopped short and gave a deep growl. I had sprung 

 off, and the bear had hardly stopped, when my ball was in 

 his shoulder. The pack was close upon him, and he sum- 

 moned all his strength to escape from the dogs ; but the 

 wounded shoulder checked his pace, the dogs attacked 

 him, and he rose on his hind legs to oppose them. I 

 could not venture a second shot for fear of injuring some 

 of them, so charged him with my knife, and plunged it 

 from behind the shoulder into his heart ; this, with the 

 furious bites of the dogs, soon ended his life. 



My companion arrived at this moment, tired to death, 

 all torn with the thorns, and his horse covered with foam. 

 He was not a little vexed at coming too late ; however, 

 he helped to break up the bear, and strip off his skin, 

 and as each of us had a bag under the saddle, we divided 

 the prize, and rode slowly home. The carcase is always 

 equally divided amongst the hunters ; the skin belongs 

 to the first shot. 



