按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
powershave by themselves mastered the cougar and the black bear。
Such instances occurred in the hunting history of my own forefathers
on my mother's side； who during the last half of the eighteenth； and
the first half of the present； century lived in Georgia and over the
border in what are now Alabama and Florida。 These big dogs can only
overcome such foes by rushing in in a body and grappling all together；
if they hang back； lunging and snapping； a cougar or bear will destroy
them one by one。 With a quarry so huge and redoubtable as the grisly；
no number of dogs； however large and fierce； could overcome him unless
they all rushed on him in a mass； the first in the charge seizing by
the head or throat。 If the dogs hung back； or if there were only a few
of them； or if they did not seize around the head； they would be
destroyed without an effort。 It is murder to slip merely one or two
close…quarter dogs at a grisly。 Twice I have known a man take a large
bulldog with his pack when after one of these big bears； and in each
case the result was the same。 In one instance the bear was trotting
when the bulldog seized it by the cheek； and without so much as
altering its gait； it brushed off the hanging dog with a blow from the
fore…paw that broke the latter's back。 In the other instance the bear
had come to bay； and when seized by the ear it got the dog's body up
to its jaws； and tore out the life with one crunch。
A small number of dogs must rely on their activity； and must hamper
the bear's escape by inflicting a severe bite and avoiding the
counter…stroke。 The only dog I ever heard of which； single…handed； was
really of service in stopping a grisly； was a big Mexican sheep…dog；
once owned by the hunter Tazewell Woody。 It was an agile beast with
powerful jaws； and possessed both intelligence and a fierce； resolute
temper。 Woody killed three grislies with its aid。 It attacked with
equal caution and ferocity； rushing at the bear as the latter ran； and
seizing the outstretched hock with a grip of iron； stopping the bear
short； but letting go before the angry beast could whirl round and
seize it。 It was so active and wary that it always escaped damage； and
it was so strong and bit so severely that the bear could not possibly
run from it at any speed。 In consequence； if it once came to close
quarters with its quarry； Woody could always get near enough for a
shot。
Hitherto； however； the mountain huntersas distinguished from the
trapperswho have followed the grisly have relied almost solely on
their rifles。 In my own case about half the bears I have killed I
stumbled across almost by accident； and probably this proportion holds
good generally。 The hunter may be after bear at the time； or he may be
after blacktail deer or elk； the common game in most of the haunts of
the grisly； or he may merely be travelling through the country or
prospecting for gold。 Suddenly he comes over the edge of a cut bank；
or round the sharp spur of a mountain or the shoulder of a cliff which
walls in a ravine； or else the indistinct game trail he has been
following through the great trees twists sharply to one side to avoid
a rock or a mass of down timber； and behold he surprises old Ephraim
digging for roots； or munching berries； or slouching along the path；
or perhaps rising suddenly from the lush； rank plants amid which he
has been lying。 Or it may be that the bear will be spied afar rooting
in an open glade or on a bare hill…side。
In the still…hunt proper it is necessary to find some favorite
feeding…ground； where there are many roots or berry…bearing bushes； or
else to lure the grisly to a carcass。 This last method of 〃baiting〃
for bears is under ordinary circumstances the only way which affords
even a moderately fair chance of killing them。 They are very cunning；
with the sharpest of noses； and where they have had experience of
hunters they dwell only in cover where it is almost impossible for the
best of still…hunters to approach them。
Nevertheless； in favorable ground a man can often find and kill them
by fair stalking； in berry time； or more especially in the early
spring； before the snow has gone from the mountains； and while the
bears are driven by hunger to roam much abroad and sometimes to seek
their food in the open。 In such cases the still…hunter is stirring by
the earliest dawn； and walks with stealthy speed to some high point of
observation from which he can overlook the feeding…grounds where he
has previously discovered sign。 From this vantage he scans the country
far and near； either with his own keen eyes or with powerful glasses；
and he must combine patience and good sight with the ability to
traverse long distances noiselessly and yet at speed。 He may spend two
or three hours sitting still and looking over a vast tract of country
before he will suddenly spy a bear； or he may see nothing after the
most careful search in a given place； and must then go on half a dozen
miles to another； watching warily as he walks； and continuing this
possibly for several days before getting a glimpse of his game。 If the
bear are digging roots； or otherwise procuring their food on the bare
hill sides and table…lands； it is of course comparatively easy to see
them； and it is under such circumstances that this kind of hunting is
most successful。 Once seen； the actual stalk may take two or three
hours； the nature of the ground and the direction of the wind often
necessitating a long circuit； perhaps a gully； a rock； or a fallen log
offers a chance for an approach to within two hundred yards； and
although the hunter will； if possible； get much closer than this； yet
even at such a distance a bear is a large enough mark to warrant
taking a shot。
Usually the berry grounds do not offer such favorable opportunities；
as they often lie in thick timber； or are covered so densely with
bushes as to obstruct the view； and they are rarely commanded by a
favorable spot from which to spy。 On the other hand； as already said；
bears occasionally forget all their watchfulness while devouring
fruit； and make such a noise rending and tearing the bushes that； if
once found； a man can creep upon them unobserved。
CHAPTER IV。
HUNTING THE GRISLY。
If out in the late fall or early spring； it is often possible to
follow a bear's trail in the snow； having come upon it either by
chance or hard hunting； or else having found where it leads from some
carcass on which the beast has been feeding。 In the pursuit one must
exercise great caution； as at such times the hunter is easily seen a
long way off； and game is always especially watchful for any foe that
may follow its trail。
Once I killed a grisly in this manner。 It was early in the fall； but
snow lay on the ground； while the gray weather boded a storm。 My camp
was in a bleak； wind…swept valley； high among the mountains which form
the divide between the head…waters of the Salmon and Clarke's Fork of
the Columbia。 All night I had lain in my buffalo…bag； under the lea of
a windbreak of branches； in the clump of fir…trees； where I had halted
the preceding evening。 At my feet ran a rapid mountain torrent； its
bed choked with ice…covered rocks； I had been lulled to sleep by the
stream's splashing murmur； and the loud moaning of the wind along the
naked cliffs。 At dawn I rose and shook myself free of the buffalo
robe； coated with hoar…frost。 The ashes of the fire were lifeless； in
the dim morning the air was bitter cold。 I did not linger a moment；
but snatched up my rifle； pulled on my fur cap and gloves； and strode
off up a side ravine； as I walked I ate some mouthfuls of venison；
left over from supper。
Two hours of toil up the steep mountain brought me to the top of a
spur。 The sun had risen； but was hidden behind a bank of sullen
clouds。 On the divide I halted； and gazed out over a vast landscape；
inconceivably wild and dismal。 Around me towered the stupendous
mountain masses which make up the backbone of the Rockies。 From my
feet； as far as I could see； stretched a rugged and barren chaos of
ridges and detached rock masses。 Behind me； far below； the stream
wound like a silver ribbon； fringed with dark conifers and the
changing； dying foliage of poplar and quaking aspen。 In front the
bottoms of the valleys were filled with the sombre evergreen forest；
dotted here and there with black； ice…skimmed tarns； and the dark
spruces clustered also in the higher gorges； and were scattered thinly
along the mountain sides。 The snow which had fallen lay in drifts and
streaks； while； where the wind had scope it was blown off； and the
ground left bare。
For two hours I walked onwards across the ridges and valleys。 Then
among some scattered spruces； where the snow lay to the depth of half
a foot； I suddenly came on the fresh； broad trail of a grisly。 The
brute was evidently roaming restlessly about in search of a winter
den； but willing； in passing； to pick up any food that lay handy。 At
once I took the trail； travelling above and to one side； and keeping a
sharp look…out ahead。 The bear was going across wind； and this made my
task easy。 I walked rapidly； though ca