Hunting Auieriiiin Hig (itune 



bear rolling over and over, and growling 

 angrily. Presently there was quiet, and 

 then with angry, furious champing of jaws, 

 the wounded animal charged back directly 

 under me ; but I could not see to shoot 

 again, worse luck ! From sundry sounds, 

 I gathered the bear was not far off, but 

 had lain down in a thicket which was 

 about one hundred yards from my tree. 

 I could hear an occasional growl, and the 

 snap of dead branches, broken as she turned 

 uneasily. I did not know exactly what to 

 do. To descend was awkward ; and to stay 

 where I was, wet and chilled to the bone, 

 seemed impossible. It was most unlikely 

 the other bears would come back; however, 

 thinking it would be prudent to stay aloft 

 a little while longer, I made up my mind 

 to stick it out another half-hour. During 

 this wait I fancied I could see shadowy 

 forms moving about, and I could surely 

 hear a cub squalling. 



The light was now a little better, and, 

 though still very dark, was not so intense. 

 Just as I had screwed up courage to de- 

 scend, another bear came up under the tree, 

 and reared up. This time I made no mis- 

 take, and almost simultaneously with the 

 rifle's report a hoarse bawl proved to me 

 that I had conquered. Glad at almost any 



45 



