A Photographic Expedition 147 



down the trail, but they were just as cautious as the others 

 had been. Every few feet the mother would stop and snifF 

 the air, and the cubs, fascinating little imitators that they 

 are, had to copy her every move. If she stood up on her 

 hind feet, they also stood up on theirs. If she stopped to 

 sniff the air, they would run up and, placing their tiny feet 

 against her sides, would peer wisely and anxiously ahead, 

 until the old lady started on again. When she came to the 

 thread she stopped short, and while she was making her 

 investigations the cubs stood with their forefeet against 

 her and awaited the verdict. It was sudden and apparently 

 surprising, for, after satisfying herself that the obstacle was 

 placed there for no good, she gave a lively snort that 

 could have been heard for a hundred yards, and without 

 waiting for her youngsters to get down, suddenly turned 

 tail and, upsetting the whole lot, disappeared up the trail 

 like a whirlwind, with the cubs trying their best to overtake 

 her. 



After this last delegation had gone I waited for an hour 

 or more, but got no more photographic opportunities. 

 Several bears came out, but it was too dark for me to fol- 

 low their actions, and none of them saw fit to run into the 

 thread. However, just before I was about to leave, I 

 heard something coming down the trail as if pursued by 

 the devil, and it occurred to me that whatever it was would 

 be in too much of a hurry to stop and examine the string, 

 and so it proved. There was a bright flash, and for an in- 

 stant the forest was lighted up, and I saw an old black 

 bear travelHng as if for dear life. I had thought that he 

 was at his best gait before he struck the string, but in this 

 I was mistaken. He had only been fooHng along before. 



