284 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



out of the hollow of the tree. At this moment one of 

 those below fired, but being so much agitated, he missed. 

 The cubs took to a limb while the old bear made towards 

 Merritt. She was in a menacing attitude and but a few 

 feet above him when he made a second fire. This proved 

 fatal and the bear fell. In falling she just brushed 

 against him. Another hunter now coming up shot one 

 of the cubs, and Merritt at his leisure reloaded and shot 

 the other. He then succeeded in getting safely to the 

 ground. 



UGLY ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR, 



About the middle of May, 1803, a man living seven or 

 eight miles east of Youngstown, had business that called 

 him to that place. He started in the morning on foot, 

 and, having accomplished his business, was on his return 

 home. When within a mile and a half of his home, he 

 was attacked by a large bear. Being unarmed and un- 

 able to outrun the bear, he sprang to climb a small tree. 

 Before he got out of reach the bear caught him by the 

 foot ; but having got hold of a limb sufficiently strong, 

 he held on until he drew his foot from her jaws and got 

 out of reach. But the bear still kept at the root of the 

 tree. This was about two o'clock, P. M. The man hal- 

 looed for help, and was heard by two men who were 

 splitting rails about half a mile distant. They thought 

 it was the noise of some wild animal and paid no further 

 attention to it, until they returned to their cabin in the 



