THE BIG BEAR OF ARKANSAS. 83 
The evening was nearly spent by the incidents we 
have detailed ; and conscious that my own association 
with so singular a personage would probably end before 
morning, I asked him if he would not give me a descrip- 
tion of some particular bear hunt; adding, that I took 
great interest in such things, though I was no sports- 
man. The desire seemed to please him, and he squared 
himself round towards me, saying, that he could give me 
an idea of a bear hunt that was never beat in this world, 
or in any other. His manner was so singular, that half 
of his story consisted in his excellent way of telling it, 
the great peculiarity of which was, the happy manner he 
had of emphasizing the prominent parts of his conversa- 
tion. As near as I can recollect, I have italicized the 
words, and given the story in his own way. 
“Stranger,” said he, “in bear hunts J am numerous, 
and which particular one, as you say, I shall tell, puz- 
zles me. 
“There was the old she devil I shot at the Hurri- 
cane last fall—then there was the old hog thief I pop- 
ped over at the Bloody Crossing, and then—Yes, I have 
it! I will give you an idea of a hunt, in which the 
greatest bear was killed that ever lived, none excepted ; 
about an old fellow that I hunted, more or less, for two 
or three years; and if that aint a particular bear hunt, 
I ain’t got one to tell. 
‘‘ But in the first place, stranger, let me say, I am 
pleased with you, because you aint ashamed to gain in- 
