BEARS. 35 



although he had been very steady in an engagement with 

 bison some days previous. No time was to be lost, so I 

 fired the 10-bore in the bear's face, and down he went, 

 giving me an opportunity as he lay on the ground of using 

 the left barrel, which most provokingly missed fire, owin^ 

 to a bad cap in the cartridge. 



The usual scene then occurred ; he got up and went 

 for his companion, and the forest resounded with shrieks 

 and roars. I reloaded, but it was difficult to get a good 

 opening at my friends, owing to the long grass ; however, 

 I browned the struggling mass, and soon fired away the 

 four cartridges in my possession, the remainder being with 

 the errant Busma, who, after much objurgation, mingled 

 with entreaty, brought up the Express. In the meanwhile 

 the bears had been slowly descending the hill fighting 

 every twenty yards, both being wounded and irascible and 

 each looking upon its companion as the cause of its mis- 

 fortunes. Busma was no longer worthy of confidence, so 

 with a rifle over each shoulder I advanced to the attack. 

 The bears were now sixty yards down the hill, fighting in 

 some long grass, whence the usual uproar emanated, as I 

 half ran, half slid, down the slope ; but, by the time the 

 spot was reached the music was reduced to a solo, one of 

 the combatants having bolted after severely mauling its 

 companion, who remained rolling about on the ground 

 giving vent to demoniacal howls. I made a bad shot witli 

 the Express, hitting it low down in a fore paw, and it went 

 off at a fine pace on the remaining three legs. Believing 

 it was my original antagonist I followed, but the marks of 

 blood were but slight, and ceased altogether at the end of 

 half a mile, so I retraced my steps and soon hit off the 

 other trail, which gave ample evidence of a severe wound. 

 The gunbearer having meanwhile come up and taken tin- 



D 2 



