BEAR STORIES 97 



however, to see these traps. This time he was in 

 luck. On arriving at the second trap he found 

 a bear in it. In springing the dead-fall the ani- 

 mal had been caught by the hind leg and the bone 

 had been broken so that he could twist himself 

 around to a certain extent. Everything within 

 reach he had torn and dragged towards him, 

 thus increasing the weight on the strangler or 

 holding part. My brother had his gun with him 

 and getting to within twenty yards of him 

 at least that is what he said he fired and the 

 bear dropped. Remembering my caution he did 

 not go any closer after his shot, but turned right 

 back and came for me. He then told me about 

 having shot it, and he was perfectly sure he had 

 killed it as it had dropped like a stone. In case 

 of further trouble, however, I thought we had 

 better bring the gun along, and getting some 

 ropes to tie and carry the bear we went back. On 

 arriving near him we found bruin standing up 

 and watching us coming. Arriving at about fif- 

 teen feet from him I could see no appearance of 

 any injury to him from my brother's shot. I 

 drew a bead on his ear and fired, and there was 

 no more shamming. That time it was the real 

 thing. We found no trace of my brother's shot 

 in him. 



It will sometimes take quite a lot of lead to lay 

 a bear out if he is not struck in the right place. 

 A side shot in the head and neck or shoulders was 



