BEAR HUNTINa IN MEXICO. 51 



However^ I aimed at tlie middle of the body^ and made 

 a splendid shot as I afterwards found, as I struck her 

 just grazing the belly ; another inch, and I should have 

 missed her. At this she uttered a short growl, and, 

 laying her ears close to her head, came bang at us. It 

 was sauve qui pent now for all of us : but a vaquero 

 wheeled round, and, getting behind her, let her have 

 3oz. of buckshot from the trabuco, which made her run 

 like a racehorse, keeping us all going at a good gallop. 

 At length, with the dogs, &c., we got her out into a plain, 

 and, after a similar performance to the last, secured her 

 by four lassos. 



And now came a most exciting scene. The old va- 

 quero, who had stuck by my side all through, dis- 

 mounted, and drawing his machete, or long knife, ap- 

 proached the bear. He had no other weapon but this, 

 and his poncho round his arm. At his ^approach the 

 four lassos, which were in the form of a square, were 

 tightened to their utmost, nearly choking the animal, 

 and causing it to sit up on its haunches. At this 

 moment the vaquero, without the slightest hesitation, 

 like a flash of lightning ran his knife up to the hilt in 

 the heart of the bear, who instantly dropped dead. The 

 whole thing was done in a moment, and the performer 

 merely took ofi" his hat to the assembled company, and 

 said ^^Seiiores !^' with the air of a conqueror. ^^ Well 

 done, by jingo ! " I involuntarily exclaimed, pitching a 

 doubloon to the old gentleman, who instantly pocketed 

 it. ^^ Si, senor, siete son " (there are seven of them), he 

 said, as he cut another small nick in the handle of his 

 knife, in addition to six others. It was a fine female, 

 but not nearly so large as the male. Leaving this one 

 for the benefit of the vultures, we all made tracks back 



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