Memories of a Bear Hunter 



and myself were promptly on the ground. Nip 

 had recently acquired the habit of bolting for the 

 bear before the first shot was fired, and George 

 went with me to hold the dog, which otherwise, in 

 his anxiety to have a share in the excitement, would 

 spoil the evening's work. The point selected for 

 the reconnaissance was on the side of a valley 

 within half a mile of the bait and commanded a 

 view of the high sloping mountainside opposite for 

 about one mile. This was without timber, and 

 from the signs seen in the morning, I expected 

 the bear to come from that direction. We had not 

 long to wait. Glimpses of a dark patch were seen, 

 now disappearing and again coming in view down 

 the mountainside. It was a large, dark-coated 

 grizzly, headed directly for the elk. The dog 

 saw him, and was trembling with excitement. We 

 kept well out of sight until the bear disappeared 

 near the carcass. I waited for a time in order that 

 he might get thoroughly to work, and be so in- 

 tently engaged as to be a little off his guard. The 

 understanding with Herendeen was that he was to 

 turn the dog loose at the first shot. In the morn- 

 ing I had determined my line of approach, and 

 intended to enter the gulch below the bait and 

 follow it up, and thereafter to be governed by 

 circumstances. 



