trees and on leaves marked his route up 

 the steep slope. Half way up the moun- 

 tain on a big ledge of rocks, covered 

 with moss, the bear had been lying down. 

 A pool of blood marked the spot. Also, 

 numerous tufts of moss torn from the 

 rock and saturated with blood were 

 scattered about. Apparently the bear 

 had pulled up handfuls of the soft moss 

 and used it in the same manner that a 

 surgeon uses lint. 



Bige suggested, 'This is a first aid 

 station for bears; but if you should tell 

 anyone what you have seen here, you 

 will be put in the class of Nature Fakirs. " 



We followed the bear's trail from the 

 mossy rock up to the top of the moun- 

 tain and had started down the other 

 side when it began to rain. In a few 

 minutes the rain had washed away the 

 red stains and we lost the trail and 

 returned to camp. But that bear is 

 going yet. Also, he is carrying with him 

 three bullets that belong to me. Some 

 day, somewhere in the woods, I expect 



68 



