212 SPOKT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



Simpl}'' because the hunter comes upon the creature 

 in the dark, when his limbs are stiffened by frost, 

 and when therefore he falls an easy victim. Three 

 gifts, however, are necessary to the success of the 

 enterprise, and if any of these be wanting, neither 

 quickness of sight, coolness, nor skill, or any two of 

 them, can protect for a moment the hunter who has 

 the audacity to attack the grizzly bear in his den. 

 As soon as the trapper has gained all the informa- 

 tion to be obtained from outside the cave, he takes a 

 candle made of mingled Avax and tallow, with a thick 

 wick, capable of producing a very brilliant flame. 

 The rifle must be his only arm, a knife being of no 

 use, a hand-to-hand combat being impossible. The 

 trapper then lights his caudle and advances into the 

 cave, without knowing from which side to expect 

 the attack of the bear. As soon as he gets in, he 

 sticks the light into a crevice of the rock, and 

 crouches into the first hiding-place to await the 

 appearance of the bear. Presently comes a terrible 

 growl ; it is the bear awaking. He shakes his 

 shaggy hide, gapes like a creature roused from his 

 slumbers, and makes a step forward. The trapper 

 remains motionless, with his rifle all ready, and 

 waits anxiously for the bear to advance so that he 

 can get a fair shot at him. Retreat is no longer 

 possible for him, and all depends upon the accuracy 

 of his aim and the dryness of the powder with which 

 his rifle is loaded. If his bullet deviates a hair's 



