Memories of a Bear Hunter 



northeast blizzard, accompanied by snow. After 

 descending into the gulch, up which the trail leads 

 to the pass in the range, the snow became deeper, 

 and toward the summit of the range it was eighteen 

 or twenty inches, knee-deep, which compelled 

 us to dismount and lead the horses, as the ascent 

 was very hard on them. In view of future possi- 

 bilities, we made every effort to save their strength. 

 It was one of the most laborious day's work of my 

 experience. 



When near the summit, going through open pine 

 timber, we discovered a large bear approaching us. 

 He was moving along the side of the steep moun- 

 tain to the left, about on a level, and would have 

 passed out of safe range. I immediately dis- 

 mounted and cut across as rapidly as the snow and 

 the ascent admitted, to intercept him. He had not 

 discovered us. When within about one hundred 

 yards, watching my opportunity through the tim- 

 ber, I fired at his side. He was hit, but not mor- 

 tally. As my later experience told me, those bears 

 when hit always either roll down hill or go "on 

 the jump." On the jump this bear came, passing 

 about twenty yards in our front. A cartridge was 

 ready, and against Jack's injunction "Don't shoot," 

 I fired; yet it failed to stop him, and Jack turned 

 loose with his repeater, I shooting rapidly with my 



