STARTING AND KILLING A BEAR. 409 



fallen in with the bear, and that he was in full retreat. At 

 this time I was on the hill-side above, and had, therefore, 

 greatly the " vantage-ground ;" so losing not a second, I 

 pushed on at the top of my speed, and fortunately suc- 

 ceeded in cutting in upon the beast. This was in a very 

 dense brake ; and though he was not more than ten or 

 twelve paces distant, yet owing to the thickness of the cover, 

 and the incessant attacks of the dogs, which were close at 

 his heels, he seemed not aware of my presence. Vividly 

 remembering the severe mauling I had received from a bear 

 only two years before, I was not at the moment without 

 misgivings as to my personal safety ; and no marvel, as 

 were my aim to be erring, the prospect was far from 

 agreeable; for stuck as my Skidor were amongst the trees, 

 retreat was impossible ; and from my companion, who 

 was at some distance in the rear, and who was only armed 

 with an axe, aid was not to be expected. As my gun was 

 in perfect readiness for whilst making for the spot, I had 

 cast aside the cover I at once fired, and as luck would have 

 it, the bear rolled over and over. Though prostrate, how- 

 ever, life was not extinct, and fearing that in his death- 

 struggles, which were violent, he might destroy the dogs 

 who had gallantly fastened on his shaggy hide, I ran close in 

 upon the beast, and shot him through the head. 



Our capture proved an old and tolerably large male ; and 

 as it was not practicable to transport him at this time from 

 the forest, we left him where he fell, first taking the precau- 

 tion of covering him with Gran-ris, as some protection from 

 the weather and beasts of prey. 



This operation completed, we started in search of another 

 bear, believed to be couched in a lofty hill at some little 



