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sharp look…out ahead。 The bear was going across wind； and this made my
task easy。 I walked rapidly； though cautiously； and it was only in
crossing the large patches of bare ground that I had to fear making a
noise。 Elsewhere the snow muffled my footsteps； and made the trail so
plain that I scarcely had to waste a glance upon it； bending my eyes
always to the front。
At last； peering cautiously over a ridge crowned with broken rocks； I
saw my quarry； a big； burly bear； with silvered fur。 He had halted on
an open hillside； and was busily digging up the caches of some rock
gophers or squirrels。 He seemed absorbed in his work； and the stalk
was easy。 Slipping quietly back； I ran towards the end of the spur；
and in ten minutes struck a ravine； of which one branch ran past
within seventy yards of where the bear was working。 In this ravine was
a rather close growth of stunted evergreens； affording good cover；
although in one or two places I had to lie down and crawl through the
snow。 When I reached the point for which I was aiming； the bear had
just finished rooting； and was starting off。 A slight whistle brought
him to a standstill； and I drew a bead behind his shoulder； and low
down； resting the rifle across the crooked branch of a dwarf spruce。
At the crack he ran off at speed； making no sound； but the thick
spatter of blood splashes； showing clear on the white snow； betrayed
the mortal nature of the wound。 For some minutes I followed the trail；
and then； topping a ridge； I saw the dark bulk lying motionless in a
snow drift at the foot of a low rock…wall； from which he had tumbled。
The usual practice of the still…hunter who is after grisly is to toll
it to baits。 The hunter either lies in ambush near the carcass； or
approaches it stealthily when he thinks the bear is at its meal。
One day while camped near the Bitter Root Mountains in Montana I found
that a bear had been feeding on the carcass of a moose which lay some
five miles from the little open glade in which my tent was pitched；
and I made up my mind to try to get a shot at it that afternoon。 I
stayed in camp till about three o'clock； lying lazily back on the bed
of sweet…smelling evergreen boughs； watching the pack ponies as they
stood under the pines on the edge of the open； stamping now and then；
and switching their tails。 The air was still； the sky a glorious blue；
at that hour in the afternoon even the September sun was hot。 The
smoke from the smouldering logs of the camp fire curled thinly
upwards。 Little chipmunks scuttled out from their holes to the packs；
which lay in a heap on the ground； and then scuttled madly back again。
A couple of drab…colored whisky…jacks； with bold mien and fearless
bright eyes； hopped and fluttered round； picking up the scraps； and
uttering an extraordinary variety of notes； mostly discordant； so tame
were they that one of them lit on my outstretched arm as I half dozed；
basking in the sunshine。
When the shadows began to lengthen； I shouldered my rifle and plunged
into the woods。 At first my route lay along a mountain side； then for
half a mile over a windfall； the dead timber piled about in crazy
confusion。 After that I went up the bottom of a valley by a little
brook； the ground being carpeted with a sponge of soaked moss。 At the
head of this brook was a pond covered with water…lilies； and a
scramble through a rocky pass took me into a high； wet valley； where
the thick growth of spruce was broken by occasional strips of meadow。
In this valley the moose carcass lay； well at the upper end。
In moccasined feet I trod softly through the soundless woods。 Under
the dark branches it was already dusk； and the air had the cool chill
of evening。 As I neared the clump where the body lay； I walked with
redoubled caution； watching and listening with strained alertness。
Then I heard a twig snap； and my blood leaped； for I knew the bear was
at his supper。 In another moment I saw his shaggy； brown form。 He was
working with all his awkward giant strength； trying to bury the
carcass； twisting it to one side and the other with wonderful ease。
Once he got angry and suddenly gave it a tremendous cuff with his paw；
in his bearing he had something half humorous； half devilish。 I crept
up within forty yards； but for several minutes he would not keep his
head still。 Then something attracted his attention in the forest； and
he stood motionless looking towards it； broadside to me； with his
fore…paws planted on the carcass。 This gave me my chance。 I drew a
very fine bead between his eye and ear； and pulled trigger。 He dropped
like a steer when struck with a pole…axe。
If there is a good hiding…place handy it is better to lie in wait at
the carcass。 One day on the head…waters of the Madison； I found that a
bear was coming to an elk I had shot some days before； and I at once
determined to ambush the beast when he came back that evening。 The
carcass lay in the middle of a valley a quarter of a mile broad。 The
bottom of this valley was covered by an open forest of tall pines； a
thick jungle of smaller evergreens marked where the mountains rose on
either hand。 There were a number of large rocks scattered here and
there； one； of very convenient shape； being only some seventy or
eighty yards from the carcass。 Up this I clambered。 It hid me
perfectly； and on its top was a carpet of soft pine needles； on which
I could lie at my ease。
Hour after hour passed by。 A little black woodpecker with a yellow
crest ran nimbly up and down the tree…trunks for some time and then
flitted away with a party of chickadees and nut…hatches。 Occasionally
a Clarke's crow soared about overhead or clung in any position to the
swaying end of a pine branch； chattering and screaming。 Flocks of
cross…bills； with wavy flight and plaintive calls； flew to a small
mineral lick near by； where they scraped the clay with their queer
little beaks。
As the westering sun sank out of sight beyond the mountains these
sounds of bird…life gradually died away。 Under the great pines the
evening was still with the silence of primeval desolation。 The sense
of sadness and loneliness； the melancholy of the wilderness； came over
me like a spell。 Every slight noise made my pulses throb as I lay
motionless on the rock gazing intently into the gathering gloom。 I
began to fear that it would grow too dark to shoot before the grisly
came。
Suddenly and without warning； the great bear stepped out of the bushes
and trod across the pine needles with such swift and silent footsteps
that its bulk seemed unreal。 It was very cautious； continually halting
to peer around； and once it stood up on its hind legs and looked long
down the valley towards the red west。 As it reached the carcass I put
a bullet between its shoulders。 It rolled over； while the woods
resounded with its savage roaring。 Immediately it struggled to its
feet and staggered off； and fell again to the next shot； squalling and
yelling。 Twice this was repeated； the brute being one of those bears
which greet every wound with a great outcry； and sometimes seem to
lose their feet when hitalthough they will occasionally fight as
savagely as their more silent brethren。 In this case the wounds were
mortal； and the bear died before reaching the edge of the thicket。
I spent much of the fall of 1889 hunting on the head…waters of the
Salmon and Snake in Idaho； and along the Montana boundary line from
the Big Hole Basin and the head of the Wisdom River to the
neighborhood of Red Rock Pass and to the north and west of Henry's
Lake。 During the last fortnight my companion was the old mountain man；
already mentioned； named Griffeth or GriffinI cannot tell which； as
he was always called either 〃Hank〃 or 〃Griff。〃 He was a crabbedly
honest old fellow； and a very skilful hunter； but he was worn out with
age and rheumatism； and his temper had failed even faster than his
bodily strength。 He showed me a greater variety of game than I had
ever seen before in so short a time； nor did I ever before or after
make so successful a hunt。 But he was an exceedingly disagreeable
companion on account of his surly； moody ways。 I generally had to get
up first； to kindle the fire and make ready breakfast； and he was very
quarrelsome。 Finally； during my absence from camp one day； while not
very far from Red Rock pass； he found my whisky…flask； which I kept
purely for emergencies； and drank all the contents。 When I came back
he was quite drunk。 This was unbearable； and after some high words I
left him； and struck off homeward through the woods on my own account。
We had with us four pack and saddle horses； and of these I took a very
intelligent and gentle little bronco mare； which possessed the
invaluable trait of always staying near camp； even when not hobbled。 I
was not hampered with much of an outfit； having only my buffalo
sleeping…bag； a fur coat； and my washing kit； with a couple of spare
pairs of socks and some handkerchiefs。 A frying…pan； some salt pork；
and a hatchet； made up a light pack； which； with the bedding； I
fastened across the stock saddle by means of a rope and a spare
packing cinch。 My cartridges and knife were in my belt； my compass and
matches； as alw