A H U N T E R ' 8 L 1 F E . 8T 



when I crept oflf slily, and carried large logs, which I piled 

 on it till it was impossible for him to raise with it any 

 more. I then shot at him through a crack, and wounded 

 him in the head. I tried a second and third fire, but did 

 not succeed in killing him, though I exhausted all my balls. 

 I was compelled to leave him as he was, and go home ; 

 where I told them that I had a large bear in the trap, 

 which was so badly wounded that he had no chance of 

 escape. 



Next morning, which was Sunday, Mary, mother, father, 

 and myself, accompanied by the dog, set ofl" as soon as we 

 could to the bear-fight. We found him yet alive, and 

 ready for the combat. I raised the trap a little, in order 

 to let him and the dog have a tussel through a small open- 

 ing. They fought a long time ; but the bear was so badly 

 wounded in the head that he could not bite, though he 

 tore the dog badly with his claws. I then called the dog 

 off ; and after the old lady and Mary had obtained a full 

 view of him, I shot him dead at the first fire, when I could 

 see how I was shooting. We then took him out, and 

 found him to be not only a large, but very fat animal, 

 weighing three hundred and nineteen pounds. We took 

 a pole, and after tying his feet together, put the pole 

 through, and the old man and myself carried him home in 

 about three hours, where we dressed him. On Monday 

 Mary went home, and got her brother to come over and 

 carry one quarter to her father, who was very fond of 

 bear-meat. 



Mary soon returned ; for her father received her so 

 coolly, that she made her visit very short. After giving 

 my step-father one quarter of our supply of meat, it be- 

 came necessary for us to see our remaining two quarters 

 taken care of; so we hurried and got our little goods (and 

 little indeed they were, the whole not being worth more 

 Uian twenty dollars) on a sled, when my mother and step- 



