132 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



the horse could endure it ; and thus the bear was turned 

 inside out, the soft skin being next the horse's bacit. The 

 carcass, thus fixed, cannot turn one way or the other ; and 

 it was decidedly the best way I ever found to carry a bear 

 through the woods. 



Old uncle and I brought my bear home without diffi- 

 culty in that way. Watch was laid up for a long time ; 

 but in a month or so he was again ready for service, and 

 as good as ever he was. My uncle advised me to change 

 my ground, and hunt in the glades ; which I did, and 

 killed twenty-two deer in two weeks, and then ended the 

 fall hunt. 



In January my old uncle again came up to see ns, and 

 to hunt a bear in his den. 



The following morning, we went to Meadow Mountain, 

 and into the rock and laurel ; where, by some means, we 

 got separated. Hearing him halloo for the dogs, I sent 

 them to him as quick as possible, and they were soon in 

 full cry. I ran off, leaving the old man to follow the best 

 he could, and pursued the dogs and the bear. I ran on 

 till near night, — for it was late before we started him, — 

 when, finding that only one dog was after the bear, I went 

 home, much out of humor, and very tired. 



The dogs had each pursued a bear, and had got home 

 before me. Watch was very bloody, but Gunner had not 

 been in a fight. Neither of them was hurt, and we could 

 not imagine how Watch had got so bloody without being 

 injured. 



The following morning, Colonel Lynn came over and 

 asked where Watch was. I told him he was somewhere 

 out of doors. 



" Well," said he, " that is the best dog I ever saw ; for, 

 as my black Moses was threshing in the barn, he heard 

 barking and fighting, and went out ; when he found a bear 

 in the shaie-tree at the spring. The negro ran to the 



