Hunting American Big Game 



bear rolling over and over, and groveling 

 angrily. Presently there was quiet, and 

 then w^ith angry, furious champing of jaws, 

 the wounded animal charged back directly 

 under me ; but I could not see to shoot 

 again, worse luck ! From sundry sounds, 

 I gathered the bear was not far off, but 

 had lain down in a thicket which was 

 about one hundred yards from my tree. 

 I could hear an occasional growl, and the 

 snap of dead branches, broken as she turned 

 uneasily. I did not know exactly what to 

 do. To descend was awkward ; and to stay 

 where I was, wet and chilled to the bone, 

 seemed impossible. It was most unlikely 

 the other bears would come back; however, 

 thinking it would be prudent to stay aloft 

 a little while longer, I made up my mind 

 to stick it out another half-hour. During 

 this wait I fancied I could see shadowy 

 forms moving about, and I could surely 

 hear a cub squalling. 



The light was now a little better, and, 

 though still very dark, was not so intense. 

 Just as I had screwed up courage to de- 

 scend, another bear came up under the tree, 

 and reared up. This time I made no mis- 

 take, and almost simultaneously with the 

 rifle's report a hoarse bawl proved to me 

 that I had conquered. Glad at almost any 



45 



