280 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



will still 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 in a skull, compared to 

 which adamant is not harder. A bullet, striking the 

 bear's forehead, would flatten, if it struck squarely on 

 the solid bone, as if fired against a rock ; and dangerous 

 indeed would it be to take the chance of reaching the 

 animal's heart. With these fearful odds against the 

 hunter, the bear approaches the candle, growing every 

 moment more sensible of some uncommon intrusion. 

 He reaches the blaze, and either raises his paw to strike 

 it, or lifts his nose to scent it, either of which will ex- 

 tinguish it, and leave the hunter and the bear in total 

 darkness. This dreadful moment is taken advantage of. 

 The loud report of the rifle fills the cave with stunning 

 noise, and as the light disappears, the ball, if success- 

 fully fired, penetrates ^the eye of the huge animal the 

 only place where it would find a passage to the brain 

 and this not only gives the wound, but instantly par- 

 alyzes, that no temporary resistance may be made. On 

 such chances the American hunter perils his life, and 

 often thoughtlessly courts the danger. 



