46 .S7 Wv TIXG ADI 'EN T[ 7vV:\V 



encampment was once more in sound repose. On awaking the 

 next morning we concluded to go in search of the disturber of 

 our sleep, and to secure its hide as a forfeit for its daring. 

 An examination of the ground was first made, and that 

 revealed the tracks of a female and her two cults, and this 

 caused us to feel somewhat elated, as we hoped to have some 

 stirring amusement. Selecting eight men for the hunt, and 

 leaving the remainder in camp, much to their disgust, we 

 followed the trail until it was lost in the dense shrubbery. 

 This forced us to spread out, and each commenced a search for 

 himself. I was on the extreme left of the party, and my course 

 led me along the banks of a deep canyon and through heavy 

 timber. While standing listlessly near a large crag, and 

 almost despairing of meeting any bears, I saw a cub about 

 six months old groping about on the outer margin of some 

 undergrowth. Thinking that it was alone, I fired at it and 

 hit it, I fancy, in the abdomen, from the jump it gave; and 

 before it could move off I delivered a second shot as it wheeled 

 around, and tumbled it over. Presuming that I had mortally 

 wounded it, although it was growling and groaning fearfully ? 

 I advanced at a run to finish it, but I had not gone twenty 

 yards before I saw the dam sniffing around it and caressing it. 

 She evidently thought something had injured it, for on lifting 

 her head she gazed about, as if in search of a foe. Seeing 

 me standing in plain sight for 1 halted on seeing her she 

 charged me promptly and fiercely. 1 fired at her once, but I 

 suppose I missed her; and not having time to reload, I broke 

 for the shelter of the chasm. Dashing, or rather tumbling 

 down its side at a headlong pace, I was soon at the bottom 

 and clambering np the opposite side ; and on reaching the 

 crest I looked around for my pursuer, but she was not visible. 

 The firing brought some of the party to my aid in a few 

 minutes, and thus reinforced, I went in search of the cub ; but 

 on reaching the place where it lay we found only a large pool 

 of blood, and a zigzag trail of the same material which led 

 into the heaviest part of the undergrowth. 



Knowing 1 that the dam was exceedingly fierce at the treat- 



~ o i, 



ment of her offspring, and not caring to meet her in the dense 



