HUNTING WITH AN UNLOADED GUN. 179 



succeeded in loading ; but, as I was about to place the 

 copper cap, the horse, who had hitherto stood quite 

 still, seemed inchned to examine the object before him 

 a little closer, and giving a snort he made a step for- 

 ward. Master Bruin, however, did not seem to like 

 this, and with one bound he was in the jungle. Having 

 finished my loading, I slipped otF my horse, and crept 

 into the bushes to get a shot, if possible. I may have 

 gone about twenty paces over the dry leaves, when I 

 stood still to listeUj Not the slightest sound was to 

 be heard ; though I was firmly convinced that the bear 

 could not be above ten paces off, for the leaves were so 

 dry that if he had gone further I must have heard it. 

 I raised my foot gently to make another step forward, 

 when the bear, who had been standing so motionless 

 before me that I took him for the root of a fallen tree, 

 almost brushed my face, and took himself off with a 

 growl ; before I could recover from my surprise he had 

 disappeared. 



I returned, quite disappointed, to my horse, who 

 remained quietly grazing, and rode away with two 

 good resolutions in my head, — first, never to go a step 

 with my gun unloaded ; secondly, to seek a nearer 

 acquaintance with Bruin on the morrow, if possible. 



On the 22 nd November, I was early afoot, and 

 although the weather was cold and disagreeable, I set off 

 with a neighbor and eleven dogs, full of joyous 

 hopes. 



Bear-shooting in America differs according to the 

 time of the year, and the habits of the animal. It 

 was now late in the autumn, almost winter, so that 

 they could be hunted with dogs. Well mounted, with 



