Memories of a Bear Hunter 



ing back again, and sitting up and looking intently 

 in my direction. By this time I became very much 

 interested as to the significance of their actions, 

 and my wits became sharpened. I became inter- 

 ested in guessing at what these two hungry bears 

 would do. 



Finally putting their heads together, they ap- 

 parently held a council of war and determined on 

 a course of action. They moved swiftly up the 

 creek, as once before they had done. I watched 

 them through the field glasses, for the moon was 

 shining, and they soon disappeared in the darkness. 



It then dawned upon me what these bears were 

 up to. Evidently they intended to cross the creek 

 a short distance above, make a circuit some dis- 

 tance in rear of the point where they feared their 

 enemy lurked, obtain its wind, ascertain what it 

 was and then act. 



In the bright moonlight and the open cotton- 

 wood timber a good view could be had by the aid 

 of glasses for a long distance up the creek. I kept 

 a sharp lookout, and soon detected two dark 

 objects, and approaching. My surmise had proved 

 correct. It was time to act. Withdrawing cau- 

 tiously out of sight, I made a circuit to the rear 

 far enough, as I believed, to circumvent their 

 designs, took a position in a low swale, and waited. 



237 



