BEARS IN THEIR WINTER-QUARTERS. 313 



winter-quarters, but prepares a new lair by biting down 

 branches, and making a bed for himself in the most 

 secluded and thickest jungle, as far removed as pos- 

 sible from the haunts of man. If thej go into a cave, 

 they do not take any provisions with them, but keep 

 sucking their paws, whining all the time ; when they 

 become torpid, they lie with their head doubled under 

 them, and their fore-paws above it. I myself have 

 crawled into a cave, and poked bears with the end 

 of my rifle, to make them raise their heads, so that I 

 might conveniently fire into their brains ; and the 

 bears Avere always cowardly in a cave, except they had 

 young, when they fight furiously — but even then, only 

 when they have no other choice. "Wlien the weather 

 is warm and they come out to drink, it is extraordinary 

 how exactly they always step in the same place ; but as 

 the marks are thereby made so much deeper, these 

 'stepping paths,' as they are called, are easily dis- 

 covered." 



The night was bitter cold ; the day broke as fine as 

 a sportsman could wish. One of Conwell's married 

 sons, who lived in the neighborhood, joined our party, 

 and another young man named Smith, and as we rode 

 by the school, the master dismissed all the boys and 

 girls, as the temptation to accompany us was too strong 

 to be resisted. TVe took plenty of fir splinters for 

 torches, and our guide was young Smith, who was one 

 of the party who had tracked the bear, but not ventured 

 very far into the cave. 



We reached the entrance about two o'clock in the 

 afternoon, and prepared a good dinner to strengthen us 

 for the exertions in prospect. While the meat was 

 27 



