s 
GRIZZLY BEAR-HUNTING. 148 
with a provided apparatus, he lights it, and its brilliant 
flame soon penetrates into the recesses of the cavern— 
its size of course, rendering the illumination more or less 
complete. 
The hunter now places himself on his belly, having 
the candle between the back part of the cave where the 
bear sleeps, and himself; in this position, with the muz- 
zle of the rifle protruding out in front of him, he pa- 
tiently waits for his victim. A short time only elapses 
- before Bruin is aroused by the light. The noise made 
by his starting from sleep attracts the hunter, and he 
soon distinguishes the black mass; moving, stretching, 
and yawning like a person awaked from a deep sleep. 
The hunter moves not, but prepares his rifle; the 
bear, finally aroused, turns his head towards the candle, 
and, with slow and waddling steps, approaches it. 
Now is the time that tries the nerves of the hunter; 
it is too late to retreat, and his life hangs upon his cer- 
tain aim and the goodness of his powder. The slightest 
variation in the bullet, or a flashing pan, and he is a 
doomed man. 
So tenacious of life is the common black bear, that 
it is frequently wounded in its most vital parts, and still 
will escape; or give terrible battle. 
But the grizzly bear seems to possess an infinitely 
greater tenacity of life. His skin, covered by matted 
hair, and the huge bones of his body, protect the heart 
as if incased in a wall; while the brain is buried m a 
