American Big Game in its Haunts 



for Fedor, who was ill, had become very weak, 

 and was in no condition to stand any hardships. 

 We left him at the main camp in care of Payjaman. 

 He was greatly depressed, and seemed to give 

 way completely, frequently saying that he never 

 expected to see his home again. Knowing the 

 Aleut's character so well, I much feared that his 

 mental state might work fatal results. Our medi- 

 cines were of the simplest, and there was but little 

 we could do. Fortunately he did recover, but it 

 was not until two weeks later, when our hunt was 

 nearly over, that he began to get better. 



Three days afterward we were back again at 

 our camp behind the rocks. We had wanted rain 

 for some time to wash out all scent. Then again 

 bears are supposed to move about more freely in 

 such weather. Therefore we were rather pleased 

 when the wind changed, bringing a northwest 

 storm which continued all the next day. The lofty 

 mountains were rapidly losing the snow on their 

 summits, and the night's rain had wrought marvels 

 in their appearance, seeming to bring out every 

 shade of green on their wooded slopes. One of 

 our natives was kept constantly on the lookout, and 

 a dozen times a day both Blake and I would leave 

 our books and climb to the watching place for a 

 view across the great meadow. By this time we 



142 



