THE BEAR ENTRAPPED. 157 



coi'Dfield. He has a good memory, and, recollecting 

 that there was no obstacle in his path when last he 

 came that way, halts as soon as he perceives the branch, 

 stands a moment as though in doubt, looks round, and 

 finally takes a sniff at it. But the bear who hesitates 

 4s lost ; there is nothing at all peculiar in the smell of 

 the branch, and at last, convinced that it is nothing but 

 a windfall from the tree above, he makes an effort to 

 throw it out of his way mth his nose, and in so doing- 

 pulls the string which is attached to the trigger of the 

 gun. 



A terrific noise is the result as the hammer falls, 

 and another awful row follows as the contents of the 

 gun pierce poor Cuffy's breast. If the gun has been 

 carefidly set, the bear dies, and everyone on the 

 plantation, master, negroes, and even dogs, will enjoy 

 plenty of fat bear meat for a couple of days. If judg- 

 ment has not been used, the bear will escape, and it 

 would simply be a waste of time to set another spring- 

 gun for him, for ever after he will exercise a won- 

 derful degree of prudence in pursuing his nocturnal 

 journeys. » 



In certain districts of Texas, where the greater part 

 of my hunting adventures took place, the 'mast-' 

 bearing timber sometimes fails to produce its usual 

 fruit. I have passed through a wood not far from the 

 river- side where scarcely an acorn was to be found; 

 while in another wood not far distant the trees were 



