232 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



chance, wheu 1 drove my knife so deep into iicr luntrs, 

 that it ended the battle, and left old Gunner in the fnll 

 enjoyment of a victory over his adversary. 



I will now relate an adventure which I had on one 

 occasion with a male bear, about three or four j'ears old. 

 Having set a steel trap for wolves, I had appointed iv cer- 

 tain day to go and see whether or not a wolf had been 

 caught. The day arrived, and with it a friend of mine, 

 named George Knox, who called to spend a few days with 

 me in hunting ; so we started off together to see my trap. 

 We went to the place where the trap had beeti set, but it 

 v/as gone ; and we soon discovered that it was a hem 

 which had taken it away. With eager steps we pursued 

 the trail, until by-and-by we found him, with tlie trap fast 

 to an old root. Knox was afraid of the l)ear, but 1 

 laughed at his fears, and told him that a man as big as ho 

 WHS, should not hesitate to fight that bear with his naked 

 hands. lie swore he would like to see me fight him naked- 

 handed. 



"Well," said I, "Knox, " I believe he could make but 

 little to brag of, in such a fight with me." 



"Well," replied he, "I have never seen you in a fight 

 vvith either man or beast, but I have heard i)eople say that 

 you are not slow at it. Now, if you were to let that fel- 

 low out of the trap, and undertake to fight him naked- 

 handed, if you wouldn't meet — , I am no judge of such 

 things." 



I then walked up on the other side of the root, and 

 found that the trap had the bear's fore-foot fast, and lying 

 upon the root. 1 took hold of the chain, and pulled him ; 

 when, though he grumbled a little, he seemed unwilling; 

 to fight. Ilis fo^ was only hanging by a small j>ornon 

 of the skin. 



I '*)h\ Knox to hold the dog, and keep him ready to 

 help, in case the bear shouli get the better of me. Ha 



