218 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



bullet had passed through the centre of the heart, and had escaped 

 near the brisket, having penetrated completely through this for- 

 midable animal. 



Upon my return to England I immediately purchased a similar 

 revolver of Messrs. Colt and Co. the long frontier pistol, '450 

 bullet. 



Although bears were scarce, wo occasionally met them unex- 

 pectedly. As a rule, I took Jem Bourne and Texas Bill out 

 shooting, the man Gaylord had to look after the twelve or thirteen 

 animals, and little Henry, the German cook, was left in camp to 

 assist my wife. Upon one of these rather dull days the camp was 

 enlivened by the visit of three large bears. These creatures 

 emerged from the neighbouring jungle, and commenced a search 

 for food within 50 yards of the camp, only separated by a narrow 

 streamlet of 10 feet in width. For about twenty minutes they 

 were busily engaged in working up the ground like pigs, in search 

 of roots or worms ; in this manner they amused themselves 

 harmlessly, until they suddenly observed that they were watched, 

 after which they retreated to the forest. 



My acquaintance Bob Stewart assured me that the bears had 

 become so shy, that the only way to succeed was to "jump a bear." 

 This term was explained as follows : you were to ride through 

 forest, until you came across the fresh track of a bear ; you were 

 then to follow it up on foot, until you should arrive at the secluded 

 spot where the bear slept during the daytime, in the recesses of 

 the forest. It would of course jump out of its bed when disturbed, 

 and this was termed "jumping a bear." Of course you incurred 

 the chance of the animal's attack, when thus suddenly intruded 

 upon at close quarters. 



I agreed to start with Bob upon such an excursion ; but I found 

 that this kind of sport was more adapted for his light weight than 

 my own, and that his moccasins were far superior to my boots, for 

 running along the stems of fallen spruce trees at all kinds of angles, 

 and for jumping from one prostrate trunk to another, in a squirrel- 

 like fashion, more in harmony with a man of 9 stone than one of 15. 

 We started together, Bob mounted upon his little mare, while I 

 rode my best horse, " Buckskin," who was trained, like many of 

 these useful animals, to stand alone, and graze, without moving 

 away from his position for hours ; should it be necessary to dis- 

 mount, and leave him. The horses thus tutored are invaluable for 

 shooting purposes, as it is frequently necessary to stalk an animal 

 on foot ; in which case, the bridle is simply arranged by drawing 

 the reins over the head, and throwing them in his front, to fall 



