214 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



we advanced towards an enormous tree, at least 

 thirty yards in circumference. It was a gigantic 

 maple of great age, and in this the Indian assured 

 me the bear had taken up his abode. I never wit- 

 nessed anything more admii'able than the cool 

 courage with which this man prepared himself for 

 the dangerous encounter. A ferocious joy sparkled 

 in his eyes as, throwing off his blanket and brand- 

 ishing his formidable knife, he warned us with a 

 look to keep the most profound silence. The other 

 Indians and myself climbed the neighbouring trees, 

 and the Eed Skin entered the lair of the grizzly 

 bear. 



In a short time we heard a terrible growling, and 

 not long afterwards the Indian came forth declaring 

 that the bear was dead. We all descended, and two 

 Cherokees entering the narrow entrance into the 

 bole of the tree, fastened a rope made of bindweed 

 to the hind legs of the creature, and drew out an 

 enormous bear, weighing at least five hundred 

 pounds. By means of the rope the carcass was 

 hung up about ten feet above the ground, and we 

 returned to the camp on the Creek, the Indians 

 leaving sundry indications of the road by breaking 

 off twigs of the trees. On our arrival four squaws 

 ■were sent to cut up the animal and bring back his 

 skin and the meat. 



I will not say that the feast which we enjoyed off 

 the flesh of our grizzly friend w^as epicurean, for I 



