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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 always； in my pocket。 I walked； while the little mare
followed almost like a dog； often without my having to hold the lariat
which served as halter。
The country was for the most part fairly open； as I kept near the
foot…hills where glades and little prairies broke the pine forest。 The
trees were of small size。 There was no regular trail； but the course
was easy to keep； and I had no trouble of any kind save on the second
day。 That afternoon I was following a stream which at last 〃canyoned
up；〃 that is sank to the bottom of a canyon…like ravine impossible for
a horse。 I started up a side valley； intending to cross from its head
coulies to those of another valley which would lead in below the
canyon。
However； I got enmeshed in the tangle of winding valleys at the foot
of the steep mountains； and as dusk was coming on I halted and camped
in a little open spot by the side of a small； noisy brook； with
crystal water。 The place was carpeted with soft； wet； green moss；
dotted red with the kinnikinnic berries； and at its edge； under the
trees where the ground was dry； I threw down the buffalo bed on a mat
of sweet…smelling pine needles。 Making camp took but a moment。 I
opened the pack； tossed the bedding on a smooth spot； knee…haltered
the little mare； dragged up a few dry logs； and then strolled off；
rifle on shoulder； through the frosty gloaming； to see if I could pick
up a grouse for supper。
For half a mile I walked quickly and silently over the pine needles；
across a succession of slight ridges separated by narrow； shallow
valleys。 The forest here was composed of lodge…pole pines； which on
the ridges grew close together； with tall slender trunks； while in the
valleys the growth was more open。 Though the sun was behind the
mountains there was yet plenty of light by which to shoot； but it was
fading rapidly。
At last； as I was thinking of turning towards camp； I stole up to the
crest of one of the ridges； and looked over into the valley some sixty
yards off。 Immediately I cau