53 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



were afraid the bear would tear them to pieces. As soon, 

 however, as Mr. Caldwell's animals scented the bear, off 

 they went, heads down and tails up. I scarcely stopped 

 to say anything to the back-track gentry, but followed after 

 the dogs, so that if they overtook the bear I would be 

 near to help them in the fight, if need be. As I passed 

 the party, they gave me many curses for being such a fool 

 as to follow the bear after he had got out of sight. 



But on went the noble dogs, and I after them. At 

 length, hearing them in full fight, I made all the haste I 

 could, till I saw them all turning somersets down a very 

 steep hill. Over and over, and down, down, towards me 

 they came, until what I made up the hill and they made 

 down brought me within shooting distance. By this time 

 the fight became so desperate that the bear, finding his 

 hind-quarters were suffering severely, thought it better to 

 try and save his breeches from being torn any worse than 

 they were. He concluded to climb a large tree ; but see- 

 ing me coming up the hill, puffing like a locomotive, he 

 was frightened, and attempted to come down. As he de- 

 scended I fired at him, and sent a small rifle-ball through 

 the middle of his body Down he came, making two or 

 three somersets ; but finding no quarter, he immediately 

 ascended another very large oak. 



This tree being forked, and very high, he went up to 

 the first fork, and, being sick, laid himself down in it and 

 refused to move. By this time the back-track gentlemen 

 had ascended the hill, pulling themselves up by the bushes. 

 Many of them had never seen a bear before, and they 

 began to consult as to what was to be done. 



I had no more balls for my little rifle, and they had no- 

 thing but small shot, while there lay the bear. It was 

 agreed, against my advice, to try what a load of shot 

 would do with him ; though I argued that it wns an ira- 

 Tossibilitv to kill him with that. I told them to let him 



