240 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



I drew on the old one, but suspected that a rear shot might 

 prove too warm for me, considering my position, as I was in 

 a poor place for defense. The cub's cries soon hushed, and 

 the old one returned to the bushes. I threw in a club and she 

 caught it and crushed it to pieces. 



Finally I got out of patience and fired into the place 

 where the bushes were moving, and she roared like a mad 

 bull, tore off down the creek, and as she went I gave her an- 

 other shot in the shoulder. At this she sprang to the right 

 and disappeared in the trees. She kept on up the hill, crash- 

 ing the old limbs and twigs, so I followed and trailed her by 

 the blood on the bushes and ground. I had crept along un- 

 der the bushes for about a mile when I came almost within 

 twenty paces of the bear, standing and looking back at me. 

 I was almost lying down when I ,saw her turn half way 

 round and realized that I was in a bad place. The bushes 

 were low and I could not expect to escape death if I wounded 

 her in her present position. 



I felt sure she knew I was there, so I drew a quick aim 

 at her ear and fired. 



She gave one fearful bound and fell dead, tearing up 

 the bushes and everything in her reach until her form lay 

 quivering in the last throes of death. The whole family had 

 been slaughtered, and, as I stood over the lifeless form of the 

 mother, I felt a twinge of remorse. But when I saw what a 

 fine robe she wore, I felt that I was somewhat justified, and, 

 besides,, the young cattle would now fare better in that sec- 

 tion. It was a satisfaction to have three robes as trophies of 

 my day's hunt. 



