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The bear had been hunted into a thicket by a band of Indians； in whose
company my informant； a white squaw…man； with whom I afterward did
some trading； was travelling。 One of them in the excitement of the
pursuit rode across the end of the thicket； as he did so the great
beast sprang at him with wonderful quickness； rising on its hind legs；
and knocking over the horse and rider with a single sweep of its
terrible fore…paws。 It then turned on the fallen man and tore him
open； and though the other Indians came promptly to his rescue and
slew his assailant； they were not in time to save their comrade's
life。
A bear is apt to rely mainly on his teeth or claws according to
whether his efforts are directed primarily to killing his foe or to
making good his own escape。 In the latter event he trusts chiefly to
his claws。 If cornered； he of course makes a rush for freedom； and in
that case he downs any man who is in his way with a sweep of his great
paw； but passes on without stopping to bite him。 If while sleeping or
resting in thick brush some one suddenly stumbles on him close up he
pursues the same course； less from anger than from fear； being
surprised and startled。 Moreover； if attacked at close quarters by men
and dogs he strikes right and left in defence。
Sometimes what is called a charge is rather an effort to get away。 In
localities where he has been hunted； a bear； like every other kind of
game； is always on the look…out for an attack； and is prepared at any
moment for immediate flight。 He seems ever to have in his mind；
whether feeding； sunning himself； or merely roaming around； the
directionusually towards the thickest cover or most broken ground
in which he intends to run if molested。 When shot at he instantly
starts towards this place； or he may be so confused that he simply
runs he knows not whither； and in either event he may take a line that
leads almost directly to or by the hunter； although he had at first no
thought of charging。 In such a case he usually strikes a single knock…
down blow and gallops on without halting； though that one blow may
have taken life。 If the claws are long and fairly sharp （as in early
spring； or even in the fall； if the animal has been working over soft
ground） they add immensely to the effect of the blow； for they cut
like blunt axes。 Often； however； late in the season； and if the ground
has been dry and hard； or rocky； the claws are worn down nearly to the
quick； and the blow is then given mainly with the under side of the
paw； although even under this disadvantage a thump from a big bear
will down a horse or smash in a man's breast。 The hunter Hofer once
lost a horse in this manner。 He shot at and wounded a bear which
rushed off； as ill luck would have it； past the place where his horse
was picketed； probably more in fright than in anger it struck the poor
beast a blow which； in the end； proved mortal。
If a bear means mischief and charges not to escape but to do damage；
its aim is to grapple with or throw down its foe and bite him to
death。 The charge is made at a gallop； the animal sometimes coming on
silently； with the mouth shut； and sometimes with the jaws open； the
lips drawn back and teeth showing； uttering at the same time a
succession of roars or of savage rasping snarls。 Certain bears charge
without any bluster and perfectly straight； while others first
threaten and bully； and even when charging stop to growl； shake the
head and bite at a bush or knock holes in the ground with their fore…
paws。 Again； some of them charge home with a ferocious resolution
which their extreme tenacity of life renders especially dangerous；
while others can be turned or driven back even by a shot which is not
mortal。 They show the same variability in their behavior when wounded。
Often a big bear； especially if charging； will receive a bullet in
perfect silence； without flinching or seeming to pay any heed to it；
while another will cry out and tumble about； and if charging； even
though it may not abandon the attack； will pause for a moment to whine
or bite at the wound。
Sometimes a single bite causes death。 One of the most successful bear
hunters I ever knew； an old fellow whose real name I never heard as he
was always called Old Ike； was killed in this way in the spring or
early summer of 1886 on one of the head…waters of the Salmon。 He was a
very good shot； had killed nearly a hundred bears with the rifle； and；
although often charged； had never met with any accident； so that he
had grown somewhat careless。 On the day in question he had met a
couple of mining prospectors and was travelling with them； when a
grisly crossed his path。 The old hunter immediately ran after it；
rapidly gaining； as the bear did not hurry when it saw itself pursued；
but slouched slowly forwards； occasionally turning its head to grin
and growl。 It soon went into a dense grove of young spruce； and as the
hunter reached the edge it charged fiercely out。 He fired one hasty
shot； evidently wounding the animal； but not seriously enough to stop
or cripple it； and as his two companions ran forward they saw the bear
seize him with its wide…spread jaws； forcing him to the ground。 They
shouted and fired； and the beast abandoned the fallen man on the
instant and sullenly retreated into the spruce thicket； whither they
dared not follow it。 Their friend was at his last gasp； for the whole
side of the chest had been crushed in by the one bite； the lungs
showing between the rent ribs。
Very often； however； a bear does not kill a man by one bite； but after
throwing him lies on him； biting him to death。 Usually； if no
assistance is at hand； such a man is doomed； although if he pretends
to be dead； and has the nerve to lie quiet under very rough treatment；
it is just possible that the bear may leave him alive； perhaps after
half burying what it believes to be the body。 In a very few
exceptional instances men of extraordinary prowess with the knife have
succeeded in beating off a bear； and even in mortally wounding it； but
in most cases a single…handed struggle； at close quarters； with a
grisly bent on mischief； means death。
Occasionally the bear； although vicious； is also frightened； and
passes on after giving one or two bites； and frequently a man who is
knocked down is rescued by his friends before he is killed； the big
beast mayhap using his weapons with clumsiness。 So a bear may kill a
foe with a single blow of its mighty fore…arm； either crushing in the
head or chest by sheer force of sinew； or else tearing open the body
with its formidable claws； and so on the other hand he may； and often
does； merely disfigure or maim the foe by a hurried stroke。 Hence it
is common to see men who have escaped the clutches of a grisly； but
only at the cost of features marred beyond recognition； or a body
rendered almost helpless for life。 Almost every old resident of
western Montana or northern Idaho has known two or three unfortunates
who have suffered in this manner。 I have myself met one such man in
Helena； and another in Missoula； both were living at least as late as
1889； the date at which I last saw them。 One had been partially
scalped by a bear's teeth； the animal was very old and so the fangs
did not enter the skull。 The other had been bitten across the face；
and the wounds never entirely healed； so that his disfigured visage
was hideous to behold。
Most of these accidents occur in following a wounded or worried bear
into thick cover； and under such circumstances an animal apparently
hopelessly disabled； or in the death throes； may with a last effort
kill one or more of its assailants。 In 1874 my wife's uncle； Captain
Alexander Moore； U。 S。 A。； and my friend Captain Bates； with some men
of the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry； were scouting in Wyoming； near the
Freezeout Mountains。 One morning they roused a bear in the open
prairie and followed it at full speed as it ran towards a small creek。
At one spot in the creek beavers had built a dam； and as usual in such
places there was a thick growth of bushes and willow saplings。 Just as
the bear reached the edge of this little jungle it was struck by
several balls； both of its forelegs being broken。 Nevertheless； it
managed to shove itself forward on its hind…legs； and partly rolled；
partly pushed itself into the thicket； the bushes though low being so
dense that its body was at once completely hidden。 The thicket was a
mere patch of brush； not twenty yards across in any direction。 The
leading troopers reached the edge almost as the bear tumbled in。 One
of them； a tall and powerful man named Miller； instantly dismounted
and prepared to force his way in among the dwarfed willows； which were
but breast…high。 Among the men who had ridden up were Moore and Bates；
and also the two famous scouts； Buffalo Billlong a companion of
Captain Moore；and California Joe； Custer's faithful follower。
California Joe had spent almost all his life on the plains and in the
mountains； as a hunter and Indian fighter； and when he saw the trooper
about to rush into the thicket he called out to him not to do so；
warning him of the danger。 But the man was a very reckless fellow and
he answered by jeerin