316 The Wilderness Hunter. 



they cut like blunt axes. Often, however, late in the sea- 

 son, and if the ground has been dry and hard, or rocky, 

 the claws are worn down nearly to the quick, and the blow 

 is then given mainly with the under side of the paw ; 

 although even under this disadvantage a thump from a 

 big bear will down a horse or smash in a man's breast. 

 The hunter Hofer once lost a horse in this manner. He 

 shot at and wounded a bear which rushed off, as ill luck 

 would have it, past the place where his horse was picketed ; 

 probably more in fright than in anger it struck the poor 

 beast a blow which, in the end, proved mortal. 



If a bear means mischief and charges not to escape but 

 to do damage, its aim is to grapple with or throw down its 

 foe and bite him to death. The charge is made at a gal- 

 lop, the animal sometimes coming on silently, with the 

 mouth shut, and sometimes with the jaws open, the lips 

 drawn back and teeth showing, uttering at the same time 

 a succession of roars or of savage rasping snarls. Certain 

 bears charge without any bluster and perfectly straight ; 

 while others first threaten and bully, and even when 

 charging stop to growl, shake the head, and bite at a bush 

 or knock holes in the ground with their fore-paws. Again, 

 some of them charge home with a ferocious resolution 

 which their extreme tenacity of life renders especially 

 dangerous ; while others can be turned or driven back even 

 by a shot which is not mortal. They show the same vari- 

 ability in their behavior when wounded. Often a big 

 bear, especially if charging, will receive a bullet in perfect 

 silence, without flinching or seeming to pay any heed to it ; 

 while another will cry out and tumble about, and if char- 



