76 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



on record in which they have killed men. Ordinarily, 

 however, a black bear will not charge home, though he 

 may bluster a good deal. I once shot one very close up 

 which made a most lamentable outcry, and seemed to lose 

 its head, its efforts to escape resulting in its bouncing 

 about among the trees with such heedless hurry that I 

 was easily able to kill it. Another black bear, which I 

 also shot at close quarters, came straight for my compan- 

 ions and myself, and almost ran over the white hunter 

 who was with me. This bear made no sound whatever 

 when I first hit it, and I do not think it was charging. I 

 believe it was simply dazed, and by accident ran the 

 wrong way, and so almost came into collision with us. 

 However, when it found itself face to face with the white 

 hunter, and only four or five feet away, it prepared for 

 hostilities, and I think would have mauled him if I had 

 not brained it with another bullet; for I was myself stand- 

 ing but six feet or so to one side of it. None of the bears 

 shot on this Colorado trip made a sound when hit; they 

 all died silently, like so many wolves. 



Ordinarily, my experience has been that bears were 

 not flurried when I suddenly came upon them. They 

 impressed me as if they were always keeping in mind the 

 place toward which they wished to retreat in the event 

 of danger, and for this place, which was invariably a 

 piece of rough ground or dense timber, they made off 

 with all possible speed, not seeming to lose their heads. 



Frequently I have been able to watch bears for some 

 time while myself unobserved. With other game I have 

 very often done this even when within close range, not 



