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Suddenly a bear emerged from some bushes and charged among the
astonished sailors； who scattered in every direction； but the bear；
said Woody； 〃just had it in for that Frenchman；〃 and went straight at
him。 Shrieking with terror he retreated up to his neck in the water；
but the bear plunged in after him； caught him； and disembowelled him。
One of the Yankee mates then fired a bomb lance into the bear's hips；
and the savage beast hobbled off into the dense cover of the low
scrub； where the enraged sailor folk were unable to get at it。
The truth is that while the grisly generally avoids a battle if
possible； and often acts with great cowardice； it is never safe to
take liberties with him； he usually fights desperately and dies hard
when wounded and cornered； and exceptional individuals take the
aggressive on small provocation。
During the years I lived on the frontier I came in contact with many
persons who had been severely mauled or even crippled for life by
grislies； and a number of cases where they killed men outright were
also brought under my ken。 Generally these accidents； as was natural；
occurred to hunters who had roused or wounded the game。
A fighting bear sometimes uses his claws and sometimes his teeth。 I
have never known one to attempt to kill an antagonist by hugging； in
spite of the popular belief to this effect； though he will sometimes
draw an enemy towards him with his paws the better to reach him with
his teeth； and to hold him so that he cannot escape from the biting。
Nor does the bear often advance on his hind legs to the attack；
though； if the man has come close to him in thick underbrush； or has
stumbled on him in his lair unawares； he will often rise up in this
fashion and strike a single blow。 He will also rise in clinching with
a man on horseback。 In 1882 a mounted Indian was killed in this manner
on one of the river bottoms some miles below where my ranch house now
stands； not far from the junction of the Beaver and Little Missouri。
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