bear would certainly have left some blood spoor, no doubt, 
while, when firing, I believed that my sights were upon him, 
my heart was jumping so violently, as result of the rapid and 
terrific climb, that in calmer moment now, I should hesitate 
opinion either way. 
Little, again, had been but a few feet behind when first 
we came on the quarry, but he found himself in such position 
that he could not make the crest in time to do any firing 
whatsoever. 
Returning to the bottom of the slide about one, saw an¬ 
other bear, a little higher up mountain, and in better place 
for climbing and stalking. 
Coming out to where he should have been, I found the 
animal moving away from me slowly, across a ravine. Had 
only the rear view at which to shoot, but figured that if I 
did not break his spine with the first shot, he would wheel, 
and so give me one or two good broadsides. With such I 
could surely “drop” him with a bullet behind the shoulder. 
The former presumption happened, as planned,—only the 
bear did not drop. Instead, he wheeled and afforded a splen¬ 
did target. 
Imagine, then, my chagrin, when, pumping my Mann- 
licher,—my favorite, ever-trusty gun,—a shell, jammed in the 
breech forced me to stand by, powerless, while Bruin slowly 
made off. Little fired several times, but as he had to shoot 
through the alders, the bear did not afford a very good mark. 
Later we found some slight blood spoor, which we followed 
into thick alders and over the ridge, till forced to give up 
the pursuit. 
Returning to the boat, all were utterly fagged. 
Off, after a good night’s rest, about 4.30, to try the slide 
May 28th u p the valley. Having broken the trail the day before, and 
yesterday’s jaunt having helped somewhat to condition us, 
the trip did not seem nearly so hard. 
Arrived at the foot of the slide as fresh, practically, as when 
leaving the boat. A little drizzle, starting the last few min¬ 
utes of our journey, now changed to a heavy downpour. 
Resting, in this, we saw a bear leave the wet alders on the 
slide and pass into the woods. 
Waited three or four hours for the weather to clear, but 
it grew worse instead. Returned, therefore, to the boat. 
[244] 
