Memories of a Bear Hunter 



appeared down toward where the bear would be 

 found. I knew he would at once give the alarm. 

 Knowing that animal's character for veracity, or, 

 rather, for lack of veracity, I hoped the bears, if 

 any were there, would pay no attention to him, so 

 I walked rapidly toward the gulch. When within 

 fifty feet of the brink, two dark objects appeared, 

 walking rapidly up the opposite slope. The moon 

 was clouded over, and as I was not ready to shoot, 

 I at once dropped and lay prone and very close to 

 the ground. When the bears reached the top of 

 the bank they stopped, and immediately sat up 

 and looked very intently in my direction. Then 

 they walked away about fifty feet, turned and 

 walked back again, and again sat up and looked. 

 They moved about, back and forth, in most in- 

 tricate or fantastic fashion, sitting up occasionally 

 to try to discover danger. They evidently had 

 not believed the coyote talk, yet they were unwill- 

 ing to take any chances. 



Discovering no sign of danger, and doubtless 

 being hungry, they returned down the slope to the 

 feast. I was on the point of slipping up to the 

 brink and delivering a shot, believing I could get 

 both the second one as he ascended the slope. 

 Before I had time to move, however, the coyote, 

 doubtless wishing a free hand at the carcasses, had 



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