2 3 8 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



defied the dogs for a time, the cubs meanwhile 

 keeping on the move. She continued her re- 

 treat at a surprising speed for a three-legged 

 bear. The thin snow covering indicated that 

 she ran at something of a gallop, making long, 

 lunging leaps. 



About a mile beyond her first affray with the 

 dogs the mother swam with the cubs across a 

 small mountain lake and paused in the willows 

 on the farther shore. Two of the dogs swam 

 boldly after them. Just before they reached 

 the farther shore this daring mother turned 

 back to meet them and succeeded in killing 

 both. One of the other dogs had made his way 

 round the lake and audaciously charged the cubs 

 in the willows. They severely injured him but 

 he made his escape. On went the bears. The 

 hunters reached the lake and abandoned pur- 

 suit. 



The next year another hunt with hounds 

 was launched. There were a dozen or more 

 dogs. The cubs, now more than two years old, 

 were still with the mother. The hounds started 

 them on the slope of Echo Mountain. They 

 at once headed for the heights. After a run of 

 three or four miles they struck their old route, 

 retreated as before, and again swam the lake, 

 but continued their way on up the range. 



At timberline there were clusters of thickly 



