DEATH OF AN INDIAN WOMAN. 801 



boat was lowered for their accommodation, and 

 with guns and ammunition they pushed off to 

 the bank and landed in the mud. The old bear 

 had observed them and removed her position to 

 some distance, where she stood near the bank, 

 which was there several feet above the bed of 

 the river. One of the hunters having neared 

 the animal, fired at her, inflicting a severe 

 wound. Enraged with pain the bear rushed 

 with open jaws towards the sportsmen at a rapid 

 rate, and with looks that assured them she was 

 in a desperate fury. There was but a moment's 

 time; the party, too much frightened to stand 

 the charge, " ingloriously turned and fled," with- 

 out even pulling another trigger, and darting to 

 the margin of the river jumped into the stream, 

 losing their guns, and floundering and bobbing 

 under, while their hats floated away with the 

 muddy current. After swimming a while they 

 were picked up by the steamer, as terrified as if 

 the bear was even then among them, though the 

 animal on seeing them all afloat had made off, 

 followed by her young. 



The follo^ving was related to us by one of the 

 " engages" at Fort Union : a fellow having 

 killed an Indian woman, was forced to run away, 

 and feared he would be captured, started so 

 suddenly that he took neither gun nor other 

 weapon with him ; he made his way to the Crow 

 26 



