1S8 FORT Y-FO i: R Y E A RS (I F 



began to squall, he saw two other old bears coming at 

 him, each of which had cubs. They were all united against 

 him, he said ; and any hunter might think as he pleased, 

 but he never would stand the like of that. 



We all enjoyed a laugh at his story ; and having finished 

 the house, and eaten a hearty supper, we regaled ourselves 

 with a stout horn of good old rye whiskey, and all parted 

 in great glee. Friend being acquainted with those woods, 

 which I was not, he walked before. At length we came 

 to a fine beech ground, just as it was getting dark ; and, 

 as we entered the outskirts of the beech, we found bears 

 had been feeding there that evening. We expected to see 

 oiie every moment ; and, sure enough, a bear which we 

 had both overlooked, started up and ran off within a few 

 steps of ns. It made a few jumps, and then stopped to 

 look back, when I pulled trigger on it. It ran a few 

 steps afterward, and fell dead, being shot through the 

 heart. 



We took out the entrails, and then left the beech ground, 

 so as not to frighten the others which fed in that place. It 

 had rained during the day, and everything was wet ; and 

 as »ve were obliged to enter a low laurel swamp, to hide 

 froH' the bears, we could get no wood to keep us warm. 

 But daylight came at last, and I was glad to get out of 

 that place. After eating some of the liver of the bear, 

 which was badly cooked, for want of enough fire to roast 

 it properly, we started into the beech ground again. 

 Friend desired me to lead, as I could shoot quicker than 

 himself; and if a second shot was necessary, he would be 

 in readiness. As the leaves on the ground were frozen 

 hard, and cracked under our feet, we kept on old logs and 

 rocks, and at length I heard what I thought was a bear, 

 pawing among the frozen leaves, in search of beech-nuts. 

 I remarked to FHend that I thought the noise was made 

 by a bear, and as he was of the same opinion, I told him 



