136 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



shepherd. Following up the duo as rapidly and 

 silently as circumstances would permit, we again came 

 on both ; but the bear had been annoyed, or the sheep 

 could or would not do what was wanted, for Bruin 

 had seized the unfortunate and dragged him on a log, 

 and was using both teeth and claws with animosity 

 and purpose. Making a stalk I got within twenty 

 yards of both ; the sheep's head had already been 

 almost severed, and the hot and liquid gore was evi- 

 dently giving intense satisfaction to the slayer. With 

 a long steady aim I covered the white horseshoe on the 

 bear's breast ; the gun was a large and heavy one, the 

 necessary pressure of the trigger was given, and with- 

 out a moan, almost without a kick, the would-be 

 despoiler and his prey fell to the earth together. 

 The shot was a good one ; the results on dissection 

 proved with what precision and force a solid bullet 

 can be fired from a common shot-gun. This bear 

 weighed four hundred pounds, and, from the decayed 

 and worn teeth, must have been an old stager; in 

 fact, I think age is wanted to give Bruin the courage 

 and desire to attack and kill animal food. The neigh- 

 bours were soon assembled, my gun was examined and 

 commented on, and I was the hero for the time being. 

 The white shoe on the breast is commonly, in some 

 sections of the country, the spot which tHe trapper waits 



