278 A STUNNING CRASH. 



block of wood, to serve as a rude candlestick. When 

 at length the lair is reached at the farthest recess of 

 the cave, the bear may be observed cuddled up com- 

 fortably with his snout buried between his fore paws. 

 The hunter now selects the spot at which to aim ; and 

 if, from the position of the beast, this be not sufficiently 

 exposed, he will not hesitate to whistle in order to 

 wake the bear. The latter startled from its profound 

 repose, its eyes dulled by sleep, and its faculties inert 

 from imprisonment, sits blinking at the unwonted 

 apparition, and probably shuffles forward to sniff at the 

 candle. This is the hunter's opportunity. Lying (as I 

 have supposed) on his face in the narrow passage, 

 incapable of an expeditious retreat, his life may truly 

 be said to depend upon the success of his shot. Should 

 he fail to bring down the bear at the first fire, the 

 beast, maddened by the sudden wound, springs upon 

 his victim, who literally lies at his mercy. Risky as 

 this mode of attack may appear, but few accidents 

 have occurred to those whose nerves have been suffi- 

 ciently firm to allow of their undertaking it. But the 

 hunters of the West are not men to be easily unnerved, 

 under any circumstances. 



" When the bear, therefore, advances to the light, the 

 hunter raises his rifle steadily, and draws a bead upon 

 the small pig-like eye. A stunning crash follows, the 

 pent-up echoes reverberating like a thunder -clap 

 through the ramifications of the cavern, and the bear 

 falls forward with his skull shattered to atoms by the 



