138 THE AXGLER AXD HTXTSMAX 



account to hunt these fiercely fighting northern bears ; yet 

 those who have pluck enough to go after them once usually 

 welcome the second opportunity, and this same rule applies 

 to any other wild animal. There are some few hunters who 

 will positively refuse to risk a shot at anything bigger than 

 a titmouse, or where there is the least element of danger 

 from the animal's defense of itself. These fellows are not 

 real sportsmen in the true sense of the word. They are 

 chicken-hearted, and they do not get out of the hunt the 

 sport that they should get. It is the element of danger and 

 excitement that really appeals to the true sportsman; a 

 fighting chance is all he asks on a "give and take" basis. 

 Without the element of danger, excitement or chance, there 

 can be no real sport and no true sportsman. 



In half an hour they had crept up on Mr. Bear, who re- 

 mained quite unaware of their presence, they having ap- 

 proached him up wind. The hunters decided to attack him 

 on two sides, John making a detour to the opposite side of 

 him. The bear was beginning to get suspicious by this time 

 and had evidently scented John. But his natural powers of 

 smell served him too late. Turning away from the direction 

 in which the man scent came to him, he started down wind, 

 unconsciously going right into the vicinity of another man 

 enemy, John's partner. John whistled a warning signal 

 to the other fellow, and himself followed close on the bear's 

 heels. The cordon was slowly being drawn tighter, bruin 

 was surrounded, escape cut off. But bruin was not yet 

 taken, and didn't intend to be, if a stiff fight would accom- 

 plish anything. He was cornered, and a cornered bear will 

 fight, and nobody but silly fools would blame him for fight- 

 ing. 



Presently, a rifle shot rang out on the crisp, mountain 

 air, rapidly followed by several other shots. Both rifles 

 were speaking ; sending forth their challenge to the lord of 

 the wilderness. 



The bear was not long in answering the challenge. 



