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！
coast； but as compared to the forests of the northeast。 The ground was
covered with pine needles and soft moss； so that it was not difficult
to walk noiselessly。 Once or twice when I trod on a small dry twig； or
let the nails in my shoes clink slightly against a stone； the hunter
turned to me with a frown of angry impatience； but as he walked
slowly； continually halting to look ahead； as well as stooping over to
examine the trail； I did not find it very difficult to move silently。
I kept a little behind him； and to one side； save when he crouched to
take advantage of some piece of cover； and I crept in his footsteps。 I
did not look at the trail at all； but kept watching ahead； hoping at
any moment to see the game。
It was not very long before we struck their day beds； which were made
on a knoll； where the forest was open and where there was much down
timber。 After leaving the day beds the animals had at first fed
separately around the grassy base and sides of the knoll； and had then
made off in their usual single file； going straight to a small pool in
the forest。 After drinking they had left this pool； and travelled down
towards the gorge at the mouth of the basin； the trail leading along
the sides of the steep hill； which were dotted by open glades； while
the roar of the cataracts by which the stream was broken； ascended
from below。 Here we moved with redoubled caution； for the sign had
grown very fresh and the animals had once more scattered and begun
feeding。 When the trail led across the glades we usually skirted them
so as to keep in the timber。
At last； on nearing the edge of one of these glades we saw a movement
among the young trees on the other side； not fifty yards away。 Peering
through the safe shelter yielded by some thick evergreen bushes； we
speedily made out three bison； a cow； a calf； and a yearling； grazing
greedily on the other side of the glade； under the fringing timber；
all with their heads up hill。 Soon another cow and calf stepped out
after them。 I did not wish to shoot； waiting for the appearance of the
big bull which I knew was accompanying them。
So for several minutes I watched the great； clumsy； shaggy beasts； as
all unconscious they grazed in the open glade。 Behind them rose the
dark pines。 At the left of the glade the ground fell away to form the
side of a chasm； down in its depths the cataracts foamed and
thundered； beyond； the huge mountains towered； their crests crimsoned
by the sinking sun。 Mixed with the eager excitement of the hunter was
a certain half melancholy feeling as I gazed on these bison；
themselves part of the last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished
race。 Few； indeed； are the men who now have； or evermore shall have；
the chance of seeing the mightiest of American beasts； in all his wild
vigor； surrounded by the tremendous desolation of his far…off mountain
home。
At last； when I had begun to grow very anxious lest the others should
take alarm； the bull likewise appeared on the edge of the glade； and
stood with outstretched head； scratching his throat against a young
tree； which shook violently。 I aimed low； behind his shoulder； and
pulled trigger。 At the crack of the rifle all the bison； without the
momentary halt of terror…struck surprise so common among game； turned
and raced off at headlong speed。 The fringe of young pines beyond and
below the glade cracked and swayed as if a whirlwind were passing； and
in another moment they reached the top of a very steep incline；
thickly strewn with boulders and dead timber。 Down this they plunged
with reckless speed； their surefootedness was a marvel in such
seemingly unwieldy beasts。 A column of dust obscured their passage；
and under its cover they disappeared in the forest； but the trail of
the bull was marked by splashes of frothy blood； and we followed it at
a trot。 Fifty yards beyond the border of the forest we found the stark
black body stretched motionless。 He was a splendid old bull； still in
his full vigor； with large； sharp horns； and heavy mane and glossy
coat； and I felt the most exulting pride as I handled and examined
him； for I had procured a trophy such as can fall henceforth to few
hunters indeed。
It was too late to dress the beast that evening； so； after taking out
the tongue and cutting off enough meat for supper and breakfast； we
scrambled down to near the torrent； and after some search found a good
spot for camping。 Hot and dusty from the day's hard tramp； I undressed
and took a plunge in the stream； the icy water making me gasp。 Then；
having built a slight lean…to of brush； and dragged together enough
dead timber to burn all night； we cut long alder twigs； sat down
before some embers raked apart； and grilled and ate our buffalo meat
with the utmost relish。 Night had fallen； a cold wind blew up the
valley； the torrent roared as it leaped past us； and drowned our words
as we strove to talk over our adventures and success； while the flame
of the fire flickered and danced； lighting up with continual vivid
flashes the gloom of the forest round about。
CHAPTER II。
THE BLACK BEAR。
Next to the whitetail deer the black bear is the commonest and most
widely distributed of American big game。 It is still found quite
plentifully in northern New England； in the Adirondacks； Catskills；
and along the entire length of the Alleghanies； as well as in the
swamps and canebrakes of the southern States。 It is also common in the
great forests of northern Michigan； Wisconsin； and Minnesota； and
throughout the Rocky Mountains and the timbered ranges of the Pacific
coast。 In the East it has always ranked second only to the deer among
the beasts of chase。 The bear and the buck were the staple objects of
pursuit of all the old hunters。 They were more plentiful than the
bison and elk even in the long vanished days when these two great
monarchs of the forest still ranged eastward to Virginia and
Pennsylvania。 The wolf and the cougar were always too scarce and too
shy to yield much profit to the hunters。 The black bear is a timid；
cowardly animal； and usually a vegetarian； though it sometimes preys
on the sheep； hogs； and even cattle of the settler； and is very fond
of raiding his corn and melons。 Its meat is good and its fur often
valuable； and in its chase there is much excitement； and occasionally
a slight spice of danger； just enough to render it attractive； so it
has always been eagerly followed。 Yet it still holds its own； though
in greatly diminished numbers； in the more thinly settled portions of
the country。 One of the standing riddles of American zoology is the
fact that the black bear； which is easier killed and less prolific
than the wolf； should hold its own in the land better than the latter；
this being directly the reverse of what occurs in Europe； where the
brown bear is generally exterminated before the wolf。
In a few wild spots in the East； in northern Maine for instance； here
and there in the neighborhood of the upper Great Lakes； in the east
Tennessee and Kentucky mountains and the swamps of Florida and
Mississippi； there still lingers an occasional r