290 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



branches with the trunks. Two were imme- 

 diately shot down. They were cubs of no great 

 size, and being already half dead, were quickly 

 dispatched by the dogs. 



We were anxious to procure as much sport 

 as possible, and having observed one of the 

 bears, which from its size we conjectured to 

 be the mother of the two cubs just killed, we 

 ordered the negroes to cut down the tree on 

 which it was perched, when it was intended the 

 dogs should have a tug with it, while we should 

 support them, and assist in preventing the bear 

 from escaping, by wounding it in one of the 

 hind-legs. The surrounding woods now echoed 

 to the blows of the axemen. The tree was 

 large and tough, having been girded more than 

 two years, and the operation of felling it seemed 

 extremely tedious. However, at length it be- 

 gan to vibrate at each stroke; a few inches 

 alone now supported it, and in a short time it 

 came crashing to the ground. 

 . The dogs rushed to the charge, and harassed 

 the bear c^ all sides, whilst we surrounded the 

 poor animal. As its life depended upon its 

 courage and strength, it exercised both in the 

 most energetic m^anner. Now and then it seiz- 

 ed a dog and killed him by a single stroke. 

 At another time, a well administered blow of 

 one of its fore-legs sent an assailant off^ yelping 



