HUNTING THE GRISLY. 119 



This time he fired into it, near the joining of 

 the neck and shoulder, the bullet going down- 

 wards into the chest hollow ; and again by a 

 quick dash to one side he just avoided the 

 rush of the beast and the sweep of its mighty 

 forepaw. The bear then halted for a minute, 

 and he rode close by it at a run, firing a couple 

 of shots, which brought on another resolute 

 charge. The ground was somewhat rugged 

 and broken, but his pony was as quick on its 

 feet as a cat, and never stumbled, even when 

 going at full speed to avoid the bear's first 

 mad rushes. It speedily became so excited, 

 however, as to render it almost impossible for 

 the rider to take aim. Sometimes he would 

 come up close to the bear and wait for it to 

 charge, which it would do, first at a trot, or 

 rather rack, and then at a lumbering but 

 swift gallop ; and he would fire one or two 

 shots before being forced to run. At other 

 times, if the bear stood still in a good place, 

 he would run by it, firing as he rode. He 

 spent many cartridges, and though most of 

 them were wasted occasionally a bullet went 

 home. The bear fought with the most savage 

 courage, champing its bloody jaws, roaring 

 with rage, and looking the very incarnation of 

 evil fury. For some minutes it made no effort 

 to flee, either charging or standing at bay. 

 Then it began to move slowly towards a patch 

 of ash and wild plums in the head of a coulie, 

 some distance off. Its pursuer rode after it, 

 and when close enough would push by it and 

 fire, while the bear would spin quickly round 



