220 FOETY-FOUR TEARS OF 



or not. But though that did not seem pleasant, I told 

 Mary to get me some bread ready, and in the morning 

 early off we all started for the hunting-ground, which I 

 knew well, though they did not. We reached there in 

 time for the evening hunt, which was intended to be espe- 

 cially for bears. 



They chose to couple without making choice of me. I 

 said to myself, "Boys, you made a poor selection of a 

 dunce when you took me to be one ; and now you shall 

 find that I will not act by you as I see you wish to do by 

 me." I then remarked aloud, "Boys, this is a fine even- 

 ing for a bear ; and some of us will see a few, or I am 

 much mistaken. Now, as you are all coupled, and I have 

 only my old pup for my helper, you may take your choice 

 of the ground ; after which there will be room enough 

 left for me." 



They made their selections, and left me the place T 

 wanted. This they did from want of judgment. 



Off we all started, in the highest spirits ; but I had de- 

 cidedly the best ground by half, and more too. 



I had not proceeded more than half a mile, when, pre- 

 cisely where I had killed the big bear before mentioned, I 

 saw an old she-bear and two cubs coming directly towards 

 me. 



" Well," said I, " some of you, if not all, are surely my 

 meat." 



I waited until the old one came within shooting-distance , 

 the little fellows, meantime, playing all sorts of capers 

 among the trees. They would chase each other round and 

 round a tree ; off one would jump, to keep the other 

 from catching him ; then off would go the other, on top 

 of the first one down ; when they would get into a scuffle, 

 and tumble over and over. They were considerably be- 

 hind their mother; which had, in the mean time, come very 



