ahunter'slife. 33 1 



behind him. Calling my dog, I sent him ofif ; and as soon 

 as he began to open on the track, McMullen and I fol- 

 ' >wed ; but our best speed was very slow, as we had eaten 

 so much pumpkin and cream, that, in running up hill, we 

 were so short of wind, that we could not make headway 

 at all ; and when the bear turned to go down hill, we 

 were so clumsy that we dare not take long steps. So 

 we walked along after the bear and dog, until we heard 

 the latter bark, when we knew that the bear was treed ; 

 and proceeding on, puffing and blowing, we presently saw 

 the bear sitting on a tree. 



We walked slowly on, trying to regain our lost breath, 

 until we were within good shooting distance, when I leveled 

 my rifle, and sending a ball through his brains, he fell help- 

 less to the ground. After resting ourselves, we carried 

 his carcass home, where we found Mary and her children 

 laughing immoderately at our race up and down the hill ; 

 for as it was only distant two hundred yards, and within 

 view from the door, they could see plainly the helpless 

 situation in which our enormous breakfast of pumpkins 

 and cream had placed us. 



My next hunt took place at the Little Crossings and 

 the Meadow Mountain ; and the very evening I arrived 

 there, I commenced my sport. The wind was very high, 

 and blowing almost a hurricane, which is the life of a 

 hunting day ; for while the wind is blowing so hard, the 

 game cannot hear the footsteps of the hunter. I pushed 

 on, until I saw a buck eating acorns, which I immediately 

 shot through the lungs, when he ran but a few yards, and 

 fell. I took care of him, carrying his saddle with me to 

 the camp. I staid out the whole week, and on Saturday 

 morning, after killing four or five deer, I started for home. 

 Traveling two or three hours, I came to a thicket, where 

 my dog showing signs of game being near, I stopped, and 

 present? J saw a tremendous buck walking leisurely along. 



