170 pioneer life; ok, 



never felt any desire to harm it. It is often danger- 

 ous to meet an old she-bear with her cubs, although 

 the old one will endeavor to escape with her young, 

 but the simple creatures will often come directly up 

 to a man when they meet him, and the enraged dam 

 will attack him with a fury which leaves him no hope 

 but in his weapon. If he attempts to flee, the cubs 

 will follow him, which increases the rage of the old 

 bear. A few years since, I was near the south bank 

 of the Allegany river, in Cattaraugus county, New 

 York, examining a road which had been made for 

 drawing logs, when I observed three black animals 

 approaching me, but thinking they were hogs, I paid 

 no attention to them. When I again looked in the 

 same direction they were but a short distance from 

 me, and I perceived that it was a bear with two cubs. 

 I was somewhat alarmed, as I knew the ferocity of a 

 bear when with her young, but knowing there wa3 

 no chance for flight, I seized a handspike and pre- 

 pared to defend myself the best I could. As the 

 bear came near she raised herself erect and advanced 

 with open mouth. When she was within reach I 

 prostrated her by a blow upon the back. She fell 

 upon one of her cubs, injuring it severely. This 

 enraged her still more, and she sprang up and again 

 rushed at me. I struck her on the head, and she fell 

 again. She rose and slowly retired with the wounded 

 cub. The other cub ran off in another direction, and 

 I attempted to capture it, but it continually eluded 

 me just as I had it almost within my grasp. After 

 chasing it nearly half a mile I finally succeeded in 



