Trail and Camp-Fire 



so apt to charge as is a wild hog ; but if 

 they do charge and get home they will maul 

 a man severely, and there are a number of 

 instances on record in which they have killed 

 men. Ordinarily, however, a black bear will 

 not charge at all, though he may bluster a 

 good deal. I once shot one very close up 

 which made a most lamentable outcry, and 

 seemed to lose its head, its efforts to escape 

 resulting in its bouncing about among the 

 trees with such heedless hurry that I was 

 easily able to kill it. Another black bear, 

 which I also shot at close quarters, came 

 straight for my companions and myself, and 

 almost ran over the white hunter who was 

 with me. This bear made no sound what- 

 ever when I first hit it, and I do not think 

 it was charging. I believe it was simply 

 dazed, and by accident ran the wrong way, 

 and so almost came into collision with us. 

 However, when it found itself face to face 

 with the white hunter, and only four or five 

 feet away, it prepared for hostilities, and I 

 think would have mauled him if I had not 

 brained it with another bullet ; for I was 

 myself standing but six feet or so to one 

 side of it. 



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