A hunter's life 32y 



as well for me to take him as to let any other j)er.son 

 have him. 



So taking a good aim, I fired at him, when the poor 

 fellow gave a few jumps, and fell dead ; and I declare 

 that the death of that deer gave me more real pain than 

 pleasure. He was a large, old fellow, his head and face 

 being quite grey with age. I took his skin and returned, 

 having the river to wade, and at least a mile to travel 

 before I could reach home. The winter being then near, 

 I believe that buck ended the fall hunt. 



The following spring, all the delightful thoughts of a 

 pleasant summer's near approach, with anticipations of 

 stirring sport and early game, were beginning to revive, 

 when two friends of mine, one a Pennsylvanian, came to 

 my house, with the view of hunting for bears. All being 

 ready, off we started for Pleasant Valley, taking with us 

 three dogs, and hunted with great care, but to no pur- 

 pose, as apparently the bears had left the place. We 

 were about to return home, when I saw a bear standing 

 on her hind feet, looking for us, as she had heard our 

 footsteps. 



As quick as thought I drew my sights on her, and fired, 

 when she fell. I ran to her as soon as possible, but by 

 the time the bear was on her feet again, the dogs were all 

 tearing away at her for life. I found one dog down, and 

 the bear biting him badly ; when, seeing that the knife 

 was the only thing to decide the matter, I drove it into 

 her twice, and ended the fight. Her cubs were then shot 

 from a tree on which they had climbed for safety ; after 

 which we skinned her, quartered her, and carried her home 

 on our shoulders. 



The summer passed off with the usual pleasant occupa- 

 tions and amusements, such as mowing hay in the glades, 

 killing deer, catching trout, and shooting wild turkeys, 

 until about the tenth of October, when, taking with me 

 28* 



