THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 95 



myself for one more desperate run. I was, myself, 

 almost in a fainting condition, but the bear was 

 worse her head lolled on one side, her body 

 swayed to and fro, the angry jaws gasped wider, 

 and the tongue protruded then there was a 

 gasping growl as she fell on her side and 

 expired. It is always folly to attack bears 

 when you are alone unless you do so from 

 a boat. 



In connection with my own narrow escape on 

 this occasion, I may quote here a similar accident 

 which came under President Roosevelt's notice. 



" A good hunter whom I once knew, at a time 

 when he was living in Butte, received fatal injuries 

 from a bear he attacked in open woodland. The 

 beast charged after the first shot, but slackened 

 its pace on coming almost up to the man. The 

 latter's gun jammed, and as he was endeavouring 

 to work it, he kept stepping back, facing the bear, 

 which followed a few yards distant, snarling and 

 threatening. Unfortunately, while thus walking 

 backwards the man struck a log and fell over 

 it, whereupon the beast instantly sprang on 

 him and mortally wounded him before help 

 arrived/' 



To confirm my observations upon Ursus 



