Memories of a Bear Hunter 



It was now 3 o'clock, and we returned toward 

 camp. Some time before we reached it, we dis- 

 covered a band of elk on the trail, but apparently 

 working back toward camp, as if something had 

 alarmed them. Following, we found that they had 

 followed our trail toward camp, and we supposed 

 that they would stop and begin to feed near camp ; 

 but before long we saw the band rapidly climbing 

 the mountains, something had greatly frightened 

 them perhaps a bear. At all events, no bear had 

 disturbed our bait, and it seemed that bears must 

 be scarce here. 



Early on this day I had an odd experience with 

 a buck antelope. I first shot at him from 250 

 yards, and supposing that I had hit him, we went 

 to see. Then I discovered him 225 or 250 yards 

 away, facing us. I took deliberate aim for 250 

 yards, making allowance for the wind that was 

 blowing. When the ball reached him, the hair 

 flew from his back, and he fell, apparently dead. 

 Soon he began to kick and flop and pitch about 

 like a rabbit, and it became apparent that he was 

 merely grazed, the ball probably having plowed 

 along his backbone. The more he kicked the live- 

 lier he became, until he got to his feet, and at every 

 jump he made, he grew better, until at length he 

 trotted and galloped off as if nothing had hap- 



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