HUNTING A BLACK BEAR IN HIS DEN.. 291 



mained in his den. John claimed as his right the honoi 

 of leading the attack and giving the first shot, and in- 

 stantly mounted the log, while I at the same moment fol- 

 lowed his example and stood close behind him. Unfor- 

 tunately, his nerves had become so much disturbed by hia 

 long race and the excitement of the moment, that when 

 he raised "Betty," as he called his rifle, to his shoulder, 

 he could not hold her steady, but shook and wabbled so 

 much that he hesitated for some seconds to shoot. See- 

 ing the tremor which had seized him, I entreated him to 

 give me the gun ; but this he refused. I then told him 

 to make a sure shot, and " give it to him " above the 

 eyes ; he instantly fired, and the ball only glanced the 

 side of his mouth, although the muzzle of his gun was not 

 more than three feet from the bear's head. " Quick as 

 wink" he gave a "tremendous" snort and sprang at 

 John, who at the same moment jumped off the log and 

 fell at full length on the ground. We all thought his 

 hour was come, as the bear, with open mouth, flew on 

 him, but fortunately, McFarland, on seeing John's trepi- 

 dation before he fired, had cocked his gun and, before 

 Bruin could seize his prostrate foe, put the muzzle 

 against his side and shot him through the lungs, while 

 the dogs seized him at the same instant and saved John's 

 life. After a brief scuffle with the dogs, whom he 

 knocked about as if they had been mere puppies, while 

 the blood flew in streams from his side, mouth, and nose, 

 he entered his cavern and .soon breathed his last. On 

 .dressing him, he was found to be in prime order, and 

 weighed near four hundred pounds. 



