234 HUNTING TRIPS 



The instant the bear appeared I fired, and 

 it turned a dozen somersaults down-hill, roll- 

 ing over and over; the ball had struck it 

 near the tail and had ranged forward through 

 the hollow of the body. Each of us had thus 

 given the fatal wound to the bear into which 

 the other had fired the first bullet. The 

 run, though short, had been very sharp, and 

 over such awful country that we were com- 

 pletely fagged out, and could hardly speak 

 for lack of breath. The sun had already set, 

 and it was too late to skin the animals; so 

 we merely dressed them, caught the ponies 

 with some trouble, for they were frightened 

 at the smell of the bear's blood on our hands, 

 and rode home through the darkening 

 woods. Next day we brought the teamster 

 and two of the steadiest pack-horses to the 

 carcasses, and took the skins into camp. 



The feed for the horses was excellent in 

 the valley in which we were camped, and 

 the rest after their long journey across the 

 plains did them good. They had picked up 

 wonderfully in condition during our stay on 



