Bear Hunting on the Alaska Peninsula 



though our men wanted to present it to us, 

 neither Blake nor I cared to bring it home with 

 the trophies we had shot. 



On June 23 we turned our baidarkas' bows to 

 the upper bay, at the head of which we ascended 

 a small river that wound through a vast meadow 

 until the stream met the mountains. Here we un- 

 loaded our simple camp gear, and while the men 

 prepared breakfast, Blake and I ascended an ele- 

 vation which commanded an uninterrupted view 

 of the grassy plain. No bears were in sight, so we 

 had time and undisturbed opportunity to enjoy the 

 beauty of the scene. We lay for some time bask- 

 ing in the sun, talking of books and people, and of 

 many subjects of common interest. Now and then 

 one would take the glasses and scan the outskirts 

 of the vast meadow which stretched before us. All 

 at once Blake gave a low exclamation and pointed 

 to the west. I followed the direction of his gaze, 

 and saw four bears slowly leaving the woods. 

 They were at some distance, and we did not think 

 we had time to reach them before they would 

 probably return to the underbrush for their mid-day 

 sleep, so for the present we let them go. 



After breakfast, as they were still in the same 

 place, we attempted the stalk, going most of the 

 way in our baidarkas, winding in and out through 



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