A COMICAL INCIDENT. l61 



he had permitted no opportunity of killing- any one of the various species 

 of bear, common to these regions, to pass unimproved. Never did he think 

 of fearing them, and was always the last to retreat in case of a charge. 



When a bear appeared within any reasonable shooting distance of 

 our hunter, it almost invariably fell a victim to his unerring aim. But, e'-e- 

 long, this spirit of bold-daring proved the source of lasting regret to its 

 possessor. 



On the occasion alluded to, having shot at one of these animals, contra 

 ry to his usual good luck, he only wounded it. 



The bear in turn now became the assailant, but received the contents of 

 two pistols before it had time to advance far. Our hunter at this crisis 

 sprang to a neighboring pine, which he commenced climbing. His pursu- 

 er, gaining the tree almost as soon, likewise began its ascent. 



Here occurred a struggle between them — the man to force his way up- 

 wards, and the bear to prevent him. The former, drawing his butcher- 

 knife, thrust it at the eyes and nose of his antagonist. Not fancying such 

 pointed hints upon a delicate subject, Mr. Bruin caught hold of the hunter's 

 hand, and, as an earnest of deep sensitiveness, crushed it between his teeth, 

 — nor even then relinquished the gripe. Transferred to tlie left hand, the 

 knife continued its work, till t!ie sickening beast commenced sliding down- 

 ward — dragging the poor hunter also to the ground. Both struck at the 

 same time ; but, at that instant, the knife of the latter pierced the heart of 

 his antagonist, and laid him dead at his feet. 



The unfortunate man, however, lost two of his fingers in the afiray, and 

 his hand was otherwise so much injured he has never since recovered its 

 use. 



Another story related at the same time, though not possessing the deep 

 and thrilling interest of the preceding ones, partakes a little of the iudircous, 

 and will doubtless amuse the reader. 



The narrator a while since formed one of a trapping party, with which 

 he proceeded to the Utah country. While there, on a certain occasion, 

 having set his traps over night, he returned to examine them the next 

 morning, in quest of beaver, and, to his surprise, one of them was missing. 

 After cautiously examining tlie premises, under the impression that some 

 lurking Indians had stolen his trap v/ith its contents, he noticed the tracks of 

 bears, near by, which served at once to unravel the whilom mystery of its 

 disappearance. 



He new began to muse upon his loss, as, without the missing trap his 

 set woul I be rendered incomplete, and, under present circumstances, \he 

 want of t.Ti thing was more than the worth of it. While thus ruminating, 

 a slight nDise, among neighboring cherry-bushes and cottonwood, caught 

 his ear, which sounded like some one beating with two sticks. 



This induced him to approach for the purpose of ascertaining the cause 

 when an opening revealed to view Mr. Bruin seated upon a log and hold- 

 ing to his face the missing trap, tightly clasped to his fore-paw. 



The bear appeared to be regaraing the strange instrument with close 



attention, as if to study into the principles of its construction ; — now gazing 



at it endwise, then bringing its side in close proximity to his eyes ; tlien 



turning it over to examine the opposite one ; — now, he would essay Ita 



14* 



