AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 
191 
not being able to follow him through the almost impenetrable canes, had 
given up the hunt. 
Being one night sleeping in the house of a friend who was a Planter in 
the State of Louisiana, we were awakened by a servant bearing a light, 
who gave us a note, which he said his master had just received. We found 
it to be a communication from a neighbour, requesting our host and 
ourself to join him as soon as possible, and assist in killing some Bears at 
that moment engaged in destroying his corn. We were not long in dress- 
ing, and on entering the parlour, found our friend equipped. The over- 
seer’s horn was heard calling up the negroes. Some were already saddling 
our horses, whilst others were gathering all the cur-dogs of the plantation. 
All was bustle. Before half an hour had elapsed, four stout negro men, 
armed with axes and knives, and mounted on strong nags, were following 
us at a round gallop through the woods, as we made directly for the neigh- 
bour’s plantation. 
The night was none of the most favourable, a drizzling rain rendering 
the atmosphere thick and rather sultry ; but as we were well acquainted 
with the course, we soon reached the house, where the owner was waiting 
our arrival. There were now three of us armed with guns, half a dozen 
servants, and a good pack of dogs of all kinds. We jogged on towards 
the detached field in which the Bears were at work. The owner told us 
that for some days several of these animals had visited his corn, and that a 
negro who was sent every afternoon to see at what part of the enclosure 
they entered, had assured him there were at least five in the field that 
night. A plan of attack was formed : the bars at the usual entrance of 
the field were to be put down without noise ; the men and dogs were to 
divide, and afterwards proceed so as to surround the Bears, when, at the 
sounding of our horns, every one was to charge towards the centre of the 
field, and shout as loudly as possible, which it was judged would so intimi- 
date the animals as to induce them to seek refuge upon the dead trees with 
which the field was still partially covered. 
The plan succeeded : the horns sounded, the horses galloped forward, 
the men shouted, the dogs barked and howled. The shrieks of the negroes 
were enough to frighten a legion of bears, and by the time we reached the 
middle of the field we found that several had mounted the trees, and having 
lighted fires, we now saw them crouched at the junction of the larger 
branches with the trunks. Two were immediately shot down. They were 
cubs of no great size, and being already half dead, were quickly dispatched 
by the dogs. 
We were anxious to procure as much sport as possible, and having 
observed one of the Bears, which from its size we conjectured to be the 
