140 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
to throw the dogs off their line and cause them to follow 
herself. The victorious punster, on hearing this, con- 
gratulated himself highly for having overthrown such a 
sagacious creature with a little lead, and became so reck- 
lessly industrious that he offered to help carry her to 
camp; but his offer was not accepted, as he and I were 
detailed to bring in some birds, while the others were to 
skin the deer and catch some fish in the lake. 
The entire party then started to go back into the for- 
est, but we had not proceeded a quarter of a mile before 
we espied a bear to the windward, not seventy yards 
away. On seeing us, it raised on its hind legs and stared 
at us with an inquisitive expression, that proved it knew 
nothing of man. I lifted my gun to fire at it, but the 
half-breed asked me not to shoot. 
“¢ Why not?” said I, in a whisper. 
‘* Because he is showing his cross, and it would be very 
unlucky to kill him now.” 
‘¢ We will bear his cross for him,” exclaimed Smith, 
and, raising his gun, he muttered: ‘Look out, Mr. 
Bruin, Pm brewin’ some trouble for you”—then fired 
both barrels, which were loaded with buckshot, at its 
head. 
The doctor and myself followed his lead, and when 
the smoke cleared away we saw the animal lying dead. 
The half-breed did not seem to like this, and when I 
asked him on what ground he objected to my firing, he 
said that all old hunters considered it very ‘‘ bad medicine ” 
to shoot at a bear if it first showed the white cross on its 
breast. This was a new and a pleasant idea to me, as it 
indicated a deep reverential feeling in the minds of men 
who are generally supposed to be dead to all religious 
sentiments; so I must say I was glad to hear the man 
state it in all seriousness, although I considered it only a 
superstition scarcely worthy of the Indians. This un- 
expected addition to our stock of provisions was 
