156 THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAE. 



has been entirely evaporated by the sun and wind of 

 the day, his powers of smell will inform him of the 

 hidden danger, and he will only retire for a short time 

 to seek out some new and safe route to his favourite 

 feeding ground. "* 



The size of the bear having been calculated to a 

 nicety, the next thing to be done is to drive into the 

 ground two stout stakes, to which a rifle or gun is 

 firmly fixed, with the muzzle pointed so as to be on a 

 level with the beast's heart as he advances along the 

 centre of the path. A string must be attached to the 

 trigger and brought round the hindmost post, then 

 carried forward beyond the muzzle of the weapon, 

 passed round a peg fixed in the path in the front and 

 on the right of the gun, and from thence strained right 

 across the path to a second peg fixed on the left-hand 

 side of the path. A small branch made to appear as 

 though it had dropped from the tree over head must 

 hang carelessly upon this line, so as to conceal the 

 deadly weapon from the bear's sight, which is almost as 

 acute as his sense of smell. All this innocent-looking 

 bunch of twigs and the trigger string must be carefully 

 adjusted at such a height that the bear shall not think 

 of leaping over the slight obstacle, but shall be tempted 

 to thrust it aside with his nose. 



As soon as the darkness of evening has rendered 

 travelling safe in the bear's opinion, he rouses himself, 

 and starts leisurely on his accustomed path towards the 



