A hunter's life. 225 



:ij) like a fighting liog ; his legs looked like a naked man's 

 iirms, and he walked along as if he scarcely felt the 

 ground — in fact, he was the poorest-looking beast I had 

 ever seen. 



He came on until he reached the tracks which I had 

 made in the fore-part of the day, when off he broke. 1 

 sent two good dogs after him, and in a few minutes they 

 were out of hearing ; but in an hour or two the dogs re- 

 turned, completely tired. 



The sun being still high, we went to another part of the 

 feeding-ground, and sat down to watch the bears as they 

 came to feed. We sat a long time, when by and by I 

 heard something at a great distance walking over the dry 

 leaves ; and the noise becoming still plainer, I knew it was 

 certainly a bear. I could not get near enough to shoot 

 him, Ijecause, the leaves beuig dry, he could hear me walk- 

 ing ; but seeing a small stream of water running towards 

 liim, I got into it, and was proceeding along finely, when 

 I heard a noise directly behind me. 



Supposing that William had let the dogs out, I turned 

 to stop them, when I saw a stout bear coming toward me 

 at full gallop ; and he ran on until he was within five steps 

 of the place where I stood in the branch. As he reached 

 the high bank, he stopped and looked back, as if some- 

 thing behind had alanred him; and this being just what 

 I wished, I took good aim, and drove a ball through his 

 heart ; when he fell down tlie bank into a quagmire up to 

 his belly. 



The dogs and William cnme running to my assistance, 

 but he was mortally wounded, and could not make any 

 resistance. We then dressed him, and went to our camp ; 

 where, finding the horse safe, and in the best of pasture, 

 we remained that night. The next day we took our prizes 

 home, and then went to work on the farm. 



On the corresponding day of the following week, I took 

 p 



