86 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 

or it indicates the d t bear that was ever grown.’ In 
fact, stranger, I couldn’t believe it was real, and I went 
on. Again I saw the same marks, at the same height, 
and I knew the thing lved. That conviction came 
home to my soul like an earthquake. 
“ Says I, ‘ Here is something a-purpose for me: that 
bear is mine, or I give up the hunting business.’ The 
very next morning, what should I see but a number of 
buzzards hovering over my corn-field. ‘The rascal has 
been there,’ said I, ‘ for that sign is certain :’ and, sure 
enough, on examining, I found the bones of what had 
been as beautiful a hog the day before, as was ever 
raised by a Buckeye. Then I tracked the critter out 
of the field to the woods, and all the marks he left be- 
hind, showed me that he was the dear. 
“Well, stranger, the first fair chase I ever had with 
that big critter, I saw him no less than three distinct 
times at a distance: the dogs run him over eighteen 
miles and broke down, my horse gave out, and I was as 
nearly used up as a man can be, made on my principle, 
which is patent. 
“ Before this adventure, such things were unknown 
to me as possible; but, strange as it was, that bear 
got me used to it before I was done with him; for he 
got so at last, that he would leave me on a long chase 
guite easy. How he did it, I never could understand. 
“That a bear runs at all, is puzzling; but how this 
one could tire down and bust up a pack of hounds 
