DEATH OF AN INDIAN WOMAN. 801 
boat was lowered. for their accommodation, and 
with guns and ammunition they pushed off to. 
the bank and landed in the mud. The old bear 
had observed them and removed her position to 
some distance, where she stood near the bank, 
which was there several feet above the bed of 
the river. One of the hunters having neared 
the animal, fired at her, inflicting a severe 
wound. Euraged with pain the bear rushed 
with open jaws towards the sportsmen at a rapid 
rate, and with looks that assured them she was 
in a desperate fury. There was but a moment's 
time; the party, too much frightened to stand 
the charge, “ingloriously turned and fled,” with- 
out even pulling another trigger, and darting to 
the margin of the river jumped into the stream, 
losing their guns, and floundering and bobbing 
under, while their hats floated away with the 
muddy current. After swimming a while they 
were picked up by the steamer, as terrified as if 
the bear was even then among them, though the 
animal on seeing them all afloat had made off, 
followed by her young. 
The following was related to us by one of the 
“engagés” at Fort Union: a fellow having 
killed an Indian woman, was forced to run away, 
and feared he would be captured, started so 
suddenly that he took neither gun nor other 
weapon with him; he made his way to the Crow 
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