A BEAR. HUNT 385 



The above was not a strong pack; Marquis was old, and three were 

 only pups. However, there was nothing for it but to make a trial. 



One morning my men succeeded in marking two bears into a favour- 

 able locality among some rocks on a hillside near Morlay. The hill sloped 

 gently to the plain below, and was clear of bushes. We approached the 

 rocks from one side. There was no cave, but the bears were sitting on a 

 table-rock, overhung by a larger one, enjoying the early warmth of the sun 

 preparatory to turning in. Upon our appearance within thirty yards they 

 made ofiF. I killed the female on the spot with my express. She tumbled 

 off the rock and rolled a few yards ; the male jumped after her, and with 

 howls made off down the hill. The dogs were with us in leash, and as 

 soon as the bear was well started they were slipped. Unfortunately Turk 

 tackled the dead bear ; the other five pursued the fugitive one. Marquis 

 was up first, and sprang at the bear's head, and over the two rolled amidst 

 fearful shrieks from the bear. I thought no dog could have held on under 

 such somersaults as they turned ; but when they stopped. Marquis was fast 

 to the bear's cheek. The bear now reared up, and might have punished 

 the dog, but Bismarck at this moment seized one ear. Lady the other, and 

 Viper and Fury his snout. From that time the bear was unable to rear, 

 the dogs pulling him over sideways, or keeping his head to the ground, at 

 each attempt. He tried hard, but in vain, to clear his head with his paws. 

 I had expected he would cut the dogs up a good deal, but they kept his 

 head down so much that he could not strike out, and at close quarters he 

 could not tear them. In about ten minutes the bear was quite done, and 

 two thrusts with my knife behind the shoulder settled him. I might 

 have killed him the moment I came up, but there was no necessity for it,, 

 as the dogs were masters of him after he was seized. None of them sus- 

 tained any injury on this occasion. 



Two days after this, one of the largest male bears I have ever seen was 

 marked into a small detached jungle. Captain P. had joined me in the 

 interim, and with the dogs and a few men we started after the bear. A 

 couple of trackers, P. and I, took the dogs inside, whilst other men were 

 posted round the jungle, and directed to keep up sufficient noise to deter 

 the bear from breaking out. Their occasional shouts unfortunately dis- 

 tracted the dogs when slipped, and they ran wherever there was most noise. 

 I had Marquis by the collar myself, so when Viper and Bismarck found the 

 bear I slipped Mm, and he went straight in. The bear made off, fighting 

 and growling fiercely. We had considerable difficulty in following fast 

 enough, but at last we got up. The three dogs and bear had then been at 

 it about two minutes. When I appeared on the scene the dogs were hold- 



