136 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



body's hogs. Off 1 ran, and soon found an old bear, with 

 a hog, which he had nearly killed. 



Colonel Lynn bad desired thai, if ever I found a bear 

 on a hog, not to mind the hog ; but to kill the bear, even 

 if I killed the hog too. " For," said he, " if the bear es- 

 eapes, he will kill half a dozen other hogs." 



So, thinking I would make sure work with him, I took 

 the leeward side of him, to keej) him from smelling me, and 

 approached within ten steps of him. The hog was very 

 badly bitten, and very weak ; while the bear was lying flat 

 on the ground by his side, but not touching him. I wanted 

 to shoot the bear in the heart ; but the short bushes hid 

 his body from me. I waited, and presently he reached 

 out his paw and scratched the hog on his hind-parts. The 

 hog grunted, and tried to crawl down the steep hill ; but 

 .vhenever he would drag himself out of reach, the bear 

 would rise suddenly, jump on hira, and give him a severe 

 bite. He would then lay low again, but hold his head up, 

 and look and listen, to see if anything was coming. He 

 did this three times. 



I saw it was Mary's pet hog, and I determined the next 

 time he held up his head to try a shot at it. He soon 

 gave the hog another bite, and listened again. " Now, my 

 fellow," thought I, "you shall get your turn." I took a clear 

 sight for his ear as he lay with his side to me, and bang 

 uent my rifle. 



Down went the bear ; when on to him I sprang, like u 

 panther would on a fawn, and sent my knife into his lungs ; 

 so that, if the ball had not done the work of death effec- 

 tually, the knife would have made up all deficiencies. But 

 the ball had done all that was necessary, not leaving a 

 particle of his brain that was not mixed with clotted blood. 

 However, he was worth little except for the hide. 



Aftei my hay-making was over, I continued to shoot 

 deer and turkeys till the 'lunting season came on, which 



