348 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



used by these animals, very often drive into the toils an entire 

 band of antelopes of several hundreds, when not one escaped 

 slaughter. 



I have seen them on the western sides of the mountains, 

 and in the mountain valleys, in herds of several thousands. 

 They are exceedingly timid animals, but at the same time 

 wonderfully curious ; and their curiosity very often proves 

 their death, for the hunter taking advantage of this weakness, 

 plants his wiping-stick in the ground, with a cap or red hand- 

 kerchief on the point, and concealing himself in the long grass, 

 waits, rifle in hand, the approach of the inquisitive antelope, 

 who, seeing an unusual object in the plain, trots up to it, and, 

 coming within range of the deadly tube, pays dearly for his 

 temerity. An antelope, when alone, is one of the stupidest 

 of beasts, and becomes so confused and frightened at sight of 

 a travelling party, that it frequently runs right into the midst 

 of the danger it seeks to avoid. 



I had heard most wonderful accounts from the trappers of 

 an animal, the existence of which was beyond all doubt, which 

 although exceedingly rare, was occasionally met with in the 

 mountains, but, from its supposed dangerous ferocity, and the 

 fact of its being a cross between the devil and a bear, was 

 never molested by the Indians or white hunters, and a wide 

 berth given whenever the animal made its dreaded appearance. 

 Most wonderful stories were told of its audacity and fearless- 

 ness ; how it sometimes jumps from an overhanging rock on 

 a deer or buffalo, and, fastening on its neck, soon brings it to 

 the ground ; how it has been known to leap upon a hunter 

 when passing near its place of concealment, and devour him 

 in a twinkling often charging furiously into a camp, and 

 playing all sorts of pranks on the goods and chattels of the 

 mountaineers. The general belief was that the animal owes 

 its paternity to the old gentleman himself; but the most 

 reasonable declare it to be a cross between the bear and wolf. 



Hunting one day with an old Canadian trapper, he told me 



