194 WILD SPOKTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



in time to see the bear, struck by liis imemng ball, 

 spring up, turn over, cling for a moment with both 

 paws, then fall heavily to the ground. The dogs threw 

 themselves on him, while we plunged our knives into 

 his chest with a shout of joy. The first two balls had 

 hit him in the flank, while the third from P.'s hand had 

 lodged in his heart. 



As it was too late in the day to travel further, we 

 returned to the place where my rifle and some of P.'s 

 things were left, collected wood, made a capital fire, 

 and prepared a splendid supper. As P. had been some 

 days in the woods, we had finished his coffee in the 

 morning ; so, by way of something hot to wash down 

 the meat, I pulled up some sassafras roots, cut them up 

 into small pieces, and made a very good substitute for 

 tea. 



Refreshed by our hard-earned meal, we enveloped 

 ourselves in our blankets, and chatted together before 

 the fire : P. telling me about the winter sleep of the 

 bears. Towards the end of the year, they select a hol- 

 low tree for the purpose, scratching and biting the inside 

 as smooth and clean as possible. This done, they de- 

 scend into it, about Christmas time, tail downwards, and 

 remain immovable, if not disturbed, till the end of Feb- 

 Tuavy or middle of March, when they come out for a 

 drink of water, returning to their retreat till the weather 

 is mild, and they can gain their ordinary livelihood. 

 Sometimes, instead of a tree, they select a cane-brake, 

 breaking and biting off the canes to form a bed. 



The nearest house lay about ten miles north-east 

 from our bivouac, and through the worst part of the 



