114 



FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



revolver and three cartridges. I found that the bear was dead 

 fast and a big one too. He seemed to be more inclined to quarrel 

 than bears usually are. I took my trapping hatchet in one hand 

 and revolver in the other, and worked my way up close as I dared 

 and awaited the best chance I could get to shoot for he was roll- 

 ing and tumbling like a ball. I fired at his head but missed it. 

 I fired the two remaining cartridges just back of the fore-shoulders. 

 He paid about as much attention to it as I imagine he would if 

 it had been a flea that bit .him. After waiting some time to see 

 what effect the shots would have and noticing no change in 

 Bruin's countenance, I concluded I would see what I could do 

 with a club. I soon found that I and the_ club were not "in it," 

 so I gave it up as a bad job and went home after the team and 

 a gun. On my way home I had to pass the house of an old trap- 

 per by the name of Stevens. Of course, he was out to see what 

 luck I had, and when I told him my story, he gave a great laugh 

 and said he would go and let the bear out of the trap. When 

 we got back to the trap the next day we found the fight all gone 

 out of Bruin, for the two shots had penetrated the lungs and he 

 was nearly dead. 



* * * 



Pard, whom I call Co, and I went camping many years ago 

 on a branch of the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County, Penn- 

 sylvania. At that time all that part of the country was an un- 

 broken wilderness and we were several miles from the nearest 

 town. Now Co was a good hunter but despised trapping, saying 

 it was no gentleman's sport, yet he was always ready to do his 

 share in camp life. 



One evening in December Co did not turn up at dark, the 

 usual hour for his return, still I did not worry much until eight 

 o'clock, but from that time until about nine I kept going to the 

 door and giving an occasional "Kho-Hoop," just to let him know 

 the direction of the camp if he was within ear shot. As Co did 

 not return, about nine o'clock I shouldered my rifle and started 

 out in the direction that he had gone, shooting off my gun, and 

 occasionally letting out a shout that echoed from hill to hill, but 

 no answer came back in reply. The weather was growing ex- 



