Memories of a Bear Hunter 



Cooper, of Bozeman, Montana, which was camped 

 at the big spring in the Judith Gap. But for the 

 vigilance of the night herder in giving timely 

 alarm, and the vigorous fusilade given them by the 

 foreman of the outfit and the drivers, they would 

 have made off with about fifty horses. My small 

 party was camped about six miles away on the road 

 to the forks of the Musselshell. We were not 

 disturbed. 



After dropping into the wagon road from 

 Judith Gap to the Yellowstone River near Porcu- 

 pine Butte, Mr. Gordon left me on the 24th of 

 August, much to my regret. He is still living, as is 

 understood. Without mishap we reached the Yel- 

 lowstone Valley at the mouth of Big Timber, and 

 made camp in the first or lower canon of that 

 stream on the evening of the 26th. We had passed 

 only two ranches on the route Gage's and Car- 

 penter's the only ranches seen since leaving the 

 Musselshell. This camp was within two miles 

 of the present site of the flourishing city of 

 Livingston. 



At daylight of the morning of the 27th, camp 

 was aroused by a commotion among the horses 

 made by a black bear, which had been feasting on 

 bullberries all night in a neighboring thicket. Levi, 

 who was investigating the cause of the racket, had 



Si 



