128 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



least a dozen run out on the north side. Our reason for 

 separating was, that as soon as the dogs got among the 

 hears, each selected a bear for himself. When I saw this 

 arrangement, I sent Hugh after one dog, while I looked 

 to the other. I pursued mine into a dense laurel thicket, 

 and was many times within ten steps of him ; but as, with 

 all my activity and strength, I could not get within sight 

 of him, I continued the chase till it was so dark that I 

 could not have seen him if he had been on clear ground. 

 With tired limbs, and shirt saturated with moisture, I was 

 compelled to retreat without obtaining a sight of my stray 

 dog. I went to the place where Hugh and I had parted, 

 and hooted,* but received no answer. I then waited, and 

 fcfter an hour or two Hugh returned, with precisely the 

 same bad luck I had met with. I mention this circum- 

 stance to show the great number of bears ranging those 

 wilds during the olden time, and I have many times seen 

 ten and twelve during one day's quiet hunting. 



During this hunt, Hugh killed a deer, and hung it upon 

 a tree. He then told me that he would go home, for he 

 did not like to live so long in the woods — a bed and a 

 good warm dinner being more to his fancy than staying 

 out in the snow, and getting nothing to eat but frozen 

 bread and meat half raw ; that he was going home that 

 night ; and that, if I would stay, I might take his deer and 

 keep it, for he would not go for it. He started for home, 

 and I for his deer, which I soon discovered had been de- 

 stroyed by a bear. The dogs scented him, and being keen 

 for a chase, I told them to try him, and off they went. 

 I waited till I found it was useless to stay any longer, 

 when I travelled about half a mile, and again waited for 

 the dogs. As I was about to leave the last place, I saw 



* To hoot like an owl is a hunter's signal. Being accustomed to 

 the sound, it does not alarm the game, like the human voice. 



