258 CANADIAN TURF RECOLLECTIONS 



for a clump of alders close by. Two barrels of No. 8 

 shot apparently further hastened his movements, judg- 

 ing by the crashing noise he made in breaking his way 

 through the close cover. 



A second experience of a similar character a year later 

 when hunting in a locality that was fairly well settled 

 and in which one would never expect to encounter big 

 game, convinced me that it would be wise policy to in 

 future be provided with two or three buckshot cartridge, 

 but the occurrence I am now going to mention proves that 

 even when so provided there is likely to be many a slip 

 between the cup and the lip. 



I was up in the north part of Peterboro county, where 

 for several years I had met with good sport hunting 

 both partridge and deer. It was a hot afternoon in 

 October, just the sort of weather that one would expect 

 to find partridge numerous. There was plenty of the- 

 food these birds are so fond of, but though I had tramped 

 many miles and hunted faithfully, a single pair was all 

 that my game bag held. Anxious to improve matters I 

 decided to leave the tote road, along the borders of which 

 I had so often had good luck, and try the woods leading 

 northwards to Blue Lake. After an hour's hard tramp 

 with only one additional bird to reward my efforts, I 

 decided to call it an ''off" day and circle homewards. 

 It was as hot as a July day, and by the time I got back 

 to the tote road, I was in a humor to take matters easy 

 for a while. 



Selecting a shady spot I found a comfortable seat, and 

 leaning my gun against the nearest tree about four feet 

 distant, I decided to have a smoke and thus soothe my 

 disappointment. As I was feeling for my pipe a rustling 

 noise immediately opposite attracted my attention, and 

 looking up I was startled to see a big black bear rooting 

 at the foot of a beech tree on the opposite side of the road 

 and not forty feet from where I sat. There was not a 

 breath of air stirring, and as I had not made the slightest 

 noise he had no warning of my presence. I do not be- 

 lieve that I ever in my life felt so chagrined as at that 



