Hunting at High Altitudes 



proudest youngster in that part or probably any 

 other part of the country. 



Wishing to make sure, however, that she was 

 really dead, I playfully caught hold of her right 

 hindleg she was lying almost flat on her back 

 and gave it a long, strong pull. What the phy- 

 siological effect of this action on my part was I 

 do not know, but I do know that with an un- 

 earthly sort of a groan she rolled over on her side. 

 This was too much for me. My nerve had held all 

 right until then, but at this particular moment it 

 oozed out somewhere. All I can remember is 

 that I took out through the woods at the greatest 

 gait I think I have ever employed, distinctly 

 hearing the bear behind me, and almost feeling 

 her hot breath on my back as she made jump 

 for jump with me. After I had run about a 

 hundred yards, as far as I could at that gait, I 

 whirled around, for my nerve or what was left of 

 it had slowly returned to me. Somehow I had 

 kept hold of my rifle, and I was prepared to do or 

 die. To my utter surprise, there was no bear in 

 sight. I sneaked cautiously and shamefacedly back 

 nearer and nearer to the little open glade, where 

 I found the bear and the elk lying where I had left 

 them, one as dead as the other. 



This bear was a well-grown, but rather lean 

 312 



