A GOOD SHOT. 149 



off into the bush, the one satisfied to be driven, the 

 other apparently a not over-exacting shepherd. Fol- 

 lowing up the duo as rapidly and silently as circum- 

 stances would permit, we again came on both ; but the 

 bear had been annoyed, or the sheep could or would 

 not do what was wanted, for Bruin had seized the 

 unfortunate and dragged him on a log, and was using 

 both teeth and claws with animosity and purpose. 

 Making a stalk I got within twenty yards of both ; the 

 sheep's head had already been almost severed from the 

 body, and the hot and liquid gore was evidently giving 

 intense satisfaction to the slayer. With a long steady 

 aim I covered the white horseshoe on the bear's breast; 

 the gun was a large and heavy one, the necessary pres- 

 sure of the trigger was given, and without a moan, 

 almost without a kick, the would-be despoiler and his 

 prey fell to the earth together. The shot was a good 

 one ; the results on dissection proved with what 

 precision and force a solid bullet can be fired from a 

 common shot-gun. This bear weighed four hundred 

 pounds, and, from the decayed and worn teeth, must 

 have been an old stager ; in fact, I think age is wanted 

 to give black bears the courage to attack and kill 

 cattle. 



The white shoe on the breast is commonly, in some 

 sections of the country, the spot which the trapper 

 waits to be exposed, to shoot at. A ball entering 

 there, and going either upwards or horizontally, always 

 proves fatal. However, behind the shoulder, very low 

 down, is the favourite aim with me. In these cross 

 shots, if obtainable, you always have more to shoot at, 

 and the regions of the heart are reached nearer the 

 surface. The butt of the ear, a little backwards, if 



