THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 213 



where the bear were staying during the day, which proved to be a 

 small patch of brush a short distance from the orchard. Having located 

 the bear we circled around on the opposite side of the brush, the dogs 

 all the while turning somersaults in their endeavors to get lose. We 

 finally unsnapped their chains and let them go. In about two minutes 

 they had caught the old bear, and the way they made the hair fly 

 wasn't slow. The bear made a little circle in an opening, and as she 

 started back to the brush we both shot. As we were following her in 

 the brush we spied one cub, weighing about 40 pounds, making for a 

 tree. As I made for the cub Wells called to keep it up the tree until 

 he came back as he wanted to catch it alive. By punching the cub 

 with my gun and a stick, I managed to keep him up the tree until 

 Wells returned. After killing the old bear, which weighed about 400 

 pounds, Wells came and sized up the cub. While he was doing this 

 the cub walked out on a limb and let go, falling to the ground. No 

 sooner had it struck the ground than Wells was upon it, and the fun 

 commenced. During the scuffle, which lasted about fifteen minutes, 

 sometimes Wells was on top and sometimes the cub. As the cub was 

 making it too warm for Wells he began to kick and every time he 

 kicked the cub would tear a good sized piece out of his trousers. Find- 

 ing this mode of capture would not work out successfully, Wells 

 seized a spruce knot and struck the cub over the head, which ended 

 the fun. "What was I doing," you ask? Sitting on a log close by 

 having the biggest laugh I have enjoyed in a long time. It is needless 

 to say that it was necessary for Wells to purchase a new pair of 

 trousers, for the ones he wore in the battle with the cub were cer- 

 tainly beyond mending. The other cub got away. 



