376 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
that could be heard during a calm night at a great 
distance. Suddenly this signal appeared to be 
answered by a shot, from a totally different direction 
from the first that we had heard; then, quickly, 
another shot; followed in irregular succession, until 
we had counted six. “ His six-shooter’s empty 
now, but he’s got plenty of cartridges in his belt,” 
exclaimed little Henry, the cook. 
What was the object of these shots He could 
not have followed the bears that distance in the 
dark, as his position was quite a mile from the spot 
where he had first fired; and he was now, as nearly 
as we could imagine, above a rocky cliff which 
bordered a grassy gap that would enable him to 
descend into our valley; he would then find his 
way parallel with the stream direct to our camp. 
My men wished to fire some shots in response, 
but I declined to permit this disturbance of the 
neighbourhood, as it would have effectually driven 
all animals from the locality; we merely piled logs 
upon the fire, which could be seen from the heights 
at a great distance, and we waited in anxious 
expectation. 
Nearly an hour passed away without any further 
sign. Bill could not have fired those six shots in 
succession to attract our attention, as it w^ould have 
been a needless waste of ammunition : if he had 
expected a response to a signal, he would have fired 
a single shot, to be followed by another some 
minutes later. We now considered that he might 
have severely wounded the bear by the first two 
