American Big Game in its Haunts 



paused and raised his head to scent the breeze ; but 

 Nikolai whispered, "No," and we worked nearer, 

 crawling forward when the bear's head was down, 

 and lying flat and close when his head was up. 



It is curious to note that often when game is be- 

 ing stalked it becomes suspicious, although it can- 

 not smell, hear, or see the stalker; instinct, per- 

 haps call it what you will. And now this bear 

 turned and began moving slowly toward cover. 

 For some time he was hidden from view, and then, 

 just before he would finally vanish from sight, he 

 paused a moment, offering a quartering shot. The 

 lower half of his body was concealed by the grass, 

 but it was my last chance, and I took it, aiming for 

 the lungs and rather high in order to get a clear 

 shot. I saw as he bit for the wound that the bullet 

 was well placed, and as he turned and lumbered 

 across our front, I fired two more deliberate shots, 

 one going through the fore leg and one breaking a 

 hind leg. 



Nikolai also fired, giving the bear a slight skin 

 wound, and hitting the hind leg just above where 

 one of my bullets had previously struck. As the 

 bear entered the brush we both ran up, my hunter 

 going to the left while I went a little below to head 

 the bear off. We soon came upon him, and 

 Nikolai, getting the first sight, gave him another 



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