GRIZZLY AND BLACK BEAR HUNTING 



two Indians cutting the trail ahead with axes, and the three 

 of us driving and leading the horses over the network of logs and 

 windfalls. Shortly after starting w^e flushed a covey of grouse 

 which flew into the neighboring trees, and, by the aid of the 

 cook's .22, they furnished us with a meal for that evening. About 

 one o'clock, during a pelting rain, when Howe and myself were 

 bringing up the rear of the struggling pack-train, as it topped 

 one of the numerous burnt ridges we suddenly became aware 

 of a great commotion over the crest of the rise. Hastily ex- 

 tricating our rifles from the scabbards and running over the 

 ridge, w^e discovered a black bear in the top of a small dead 

 tree about fifty yards distant, surrounded and kept there by the 

 three men and the dog. 



Telecum had discovered the bear feeding on the berries, and 

 although it was the first of these animals that he had met, he had 

 run it up the nearest tree of any size after a short chase. The 

 bear now realized the error of climbing for safety, and every few 

 moments would start to descend to the ground, only to be driven 

 up again by the men pounding on the tree-trunk w4th axes and 

 yelling at the top of their lungs. Telecum, in the mean while, 

 was barking himself hoarse from excitement and anticipation. 

 Howe shot the bear through the shoulders ; thereupon it clung 

 unsteadily to the tree for a few moments, and then came to the 

 ground with a crash. As it was still considerably alive, dog 

 and bear rolled down the hillside in a rough-and-tumble em- 

 brace until they lodged against a log one hundred yards farther 

 down the slope ; then a bullet through the head of the bear put 

 an end to the fight. This was about a three-year-old bear, 

 very fat, with a fine coat of fur. Like most of these northern 

 black bears, it had a very large, w^hite, horseshoe-shaped patch 

 on the breast. We cleaned the carcass and packed it on one 

 of the horses, and, as the rain was coming down in torrents, 

 camped in the next valley, spending the next couple of hours 

 in drying our clothing and consuming a much-needed repast. 



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