A GOOD SHOT. 10 :j 



as advisable, we were witnesses of a proceeding almost in- 

 credible. Bruin was evidently in a magnanimous frame 

 of mind, or was overcome by his natural politeness, for, 

 without worrying or mauling, never for a moment using 

 his teeth, he picked up the poor sheep between his paws, 

 placed it on the top of the rails, then pushed it over, and 

 with the agility of a greyhound cleared the fence himself. 

 The shock had roused the victim and re-animated him, for 

 both walked off into the bush, the one satisfied to be driven, 

 the other apparently a not overexacting shepherd. Fol- 

 lowing up the duo as rapidly and silently as circumstances 

 would permit, we again came on both ; but the bear had 

 been annoyed, or the sheep could? or would not do what 

 was wanted, for Bruin had seized the unfortunate, and 

 dragged him on a log, and was using both teeth and claws 

 with animosity and purpose. Making a stalk, I got within 

 twenty yards of both ; the sheep's head had already been al- 

 most severed from the body, and the hot and liquid gore 

 was evidently giving intense satisfaction to the slayer. 

 With a long, steady aim I covered the white horseshoe on 

 the bear's breast ; the gun was a large and heavy one, the 

 necessary pressure of the trigger was given, and without a 

 moan, almost without a kick, the would-be despoiler and his 

 prey fell to the earth together. The shot was a good one ; 

 the results, on dissection, proved with what precision and 

 force a solid bullet can be fired from a common shot-gun. 

 This bear weighed four hundred pounds, and, from the de- 

 cayed and worn teeth, must have been an old stager ; in 

 fact, I think age is wanted to give black bears the courage 

 to attack and kill cattle. 



The white shoe on the breast is commonly, in some sec- 

 tions of the country, the spot which the trapper waits to 

 be exposed, to shoot at. A ball entering there, and going 

 either upward or horizontally, always proves fatal. How- 



