I BAG A GRIZZLY. 341 



long by about half as wide, and by standing on the hill above 

 I could easily see if anything left it. Here I stationed myself, 

 and the ground being stony, I began to throw in all the big 

 ones I could find, now and then hearing a grunt and seeing the 

 bushes move, which showed that I had gone near him. This 

 went on for some time, and I was nearly out of big stones, when 

 the bear broke cover on the opposite side and I gave him a shot 

 from behind, when he rolled over backwards into the cover again. 

 Almost all the bears I have shot have done this when hit, and 

 until you know better you think you have made a splendid shot j 

 the truth is, that they bite at the wound, and in doing so roll over, 

 but are up again and off in an instant, unless the wound is really 

 mortal. The bear now sulked, and stones were evidently of no 

 use, so I had to make up my mind to go in and tackle him in 

 his den. This was all the more awkward, as I had disabled one 

 barrel of my rifle, the base of a brass cartridge having come off, 

 leaving the remainder in the barrel. Had- there been any spec- 

 tators looking at me I think the task would have been easy, but 

 I walked round the place and did not like the look of it at all. 

 It was very thick, and to go in one would have to crawl, and 

 be in a very awkward position for shooting as the bear charged. 

 I fear I was a long time before I made up my mind to do it, and 

 I then found the largest hole I could and began to creep in, 

 pushing my rifle in front of me. I had got in perhaps twelve 

 feet when I saw something moving up and down, and on looking 

 closely, for the light was bad inside, I saw that it was the bear's 

 jaw. He was evidently hit in the stomach, and was lying with 

 his head on his paws breathing hard. I brought up my rifle, 

 and aiming at the centre of his forehead fired, just as he was 

 rising to charge me. The smoke hung so that I could see 



