Memories of a Bear Hunter 



scent the presence of our outfit, and soon came trot- 

 ting down the trail, the embodiment of joy and 

 good fellowship. He turned out to be a big Mis- 

 souri or Kentucky mule, sixteen hands high, that 

 had broken down under his pack and had been 

 turned loose by Howard's command and was en- 

 deavoring to follow on. He was a very forlorn 

 looking animal. Our council of war decided he 

 would soon perish in these deep snows. Jack Bean 

 said the A. Q. M. at Fort Ellis was paying $30 

 for delivery of all such animals. I told him that I 

 would help to carry him along and he could get 

 the $30 for him ; so we took him along and camped 

 as soon as the snow became so little deep that the 

 horses could feed in a small meadow, where camp 

 was located. 



There was an abundance of dry pine, and a 

 rousing fire to dry us out was soon in full blast. 

 The day had not been cold, but the rain, snow and 

 wind made it appear so. We made fine beds of 

 pine boughs, but I ate too much bear and did not 

 rest well. That bear was taking post-mortem re- 

 venge on each of us. 



We reached the Grand Falls of the Yellowstone 

 and spent a part of the morning there. I have 

 seen Niagara, Montmorency, Minnehaha, the 

 Great Falls of the Missouri and these falls. 



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