vii DEATH OF SHE-BEAR 199 



the east. Arthur going to the Cotatoire, and I to the 

 dead tree post. When the men got as far as me 

 (quarter to twelve), I went down and breakfasted under 

 the beeches, got to the cabane at 1 2.30, and Hillier gave 

 me a hand with my rifle up the Salerous, on my way to 

 the castle, where I arrived at 2.15, and posted myself 

 where Arthur had been sitting when he killed the male 

 on the I oth. When the men arrived, they told me that 

 Arthur had killed a she-bear at Cotatoire about a 

 quarter to ten. She was followed by her cubs, and 

 came straight along the edge of the precipice above the 

 Black Rocks at a gallop. He hit her well behind the 

 shoulder, and rolled her down the avalanche stone 

 dead. He fired three shots at the cubs, and thought he 

 hit one in the foot or leg. On my way down I spied 

 Arthur sitting down, contentedly reading his letters, 

 which had just arrived, in front of the cabane^ with the 

 bear lying in front of him. A real jolly moment of 

 blissful self-satisfaction, known only to the slayer of a 

 good beastie. The bear was just stopping suckling. 

 She was small, but with a fine head and lovely coat. 

 I expect it was our friend who disturbed the big 

 solitaire on the 7th. Old Tambell came in with her 

 chops very much swollen, and we could not make it 

 out, and half thought one of the cubs might have 

 boxed her ears, but I don't think it. Sang congratu- 

 lamine half the night after skinning the bear, which 

 was very fat. Her teeth showed age. 



Wednesday, I ^tli April 1 88 1 . Left at eight, beat the 

 Buster. Remarked a difference in our condition since 

 the last time we negotiated him, especially Arthur, the 

 lawn-tennis handicap having got me in a bit of con- 

 dition. It was very cold. Upon the men arriving, 

 Michell reported tracks of a large bouquetin he had 

 made down to the rocks over the Gave. We lit a fire 



