hunting the grisly and other sketches-第11章

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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　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　caught　the　loom　of　some　large；　dark　object；
and　another　glance　showed　me　a　big　grisly　walking　slowly　off　with　his
head　down。　He　was　quartering　to　me；　and　I　fired　into　his　flank；　the
bullet；　as　I　afterwards　found；　ranging　forward　and　piercing　one　lung。
At　the　shot　he　uttered　a　loud；　moaning　grunt　and　plunged　forward　at　a
heavy　gallop；　while　I　raced　obliquely　down　the　hill　to　cut　him　off。
After　going　a　few　hundred　feet　he　reached　a　laurel　thicket；　some
thirty　yards　broad；　and　two　or　three　times　as　long　which　he　did　not
leave。　I　ran　up　to　the　edge　and　there　halted；　not　liking　to　venture
into　the　mass　of　twisted；　close…growing　stems　and　glossy　foliage。
Moreover；　as　I　halted；　I　head　him　utter　a　peculiar；　savage　kind　of
whine　from　the　heart　of　the　brush。　Accordingly；　I　began　to　skirt　the
edge；　standing　on　tiptoe　and　gazing　earnestly　to　see　if　I　could　not
catch　a　glimpse　of　his　hide。　When　I　was　at　the　narrowest　part　of　the
thicket；　he　suddenly　left　it　directly　opposite；　and　then　wheeled　and
stood　broadside　to　me　on　the　hill…side；　a　little　above。　He　turned　his
head　stiffly　towards　me；　scarlet　strings　of　froth　hung　from　his　lips；
his　eyes　burned　like　embers　in　the　gloom。

I　held　true；　aiming　behind　the　shoulder；　and　my　bullet　shattered　the
point　or　lower　end　of　his　heart；　taking　out　a　big　nick。　Instantly　the
great　bear　turned　with　a　harsh　roar　of　fury　and　challenge；　blowing　the
blood　foam　from　his　mouth；　so　that　I　saw　the　gleam　of　his　white　fangs；
and　then　he　charged　straight　at　me；　crashing　and　bounding　through　the
laurel　bushes；　so　that　it　was　hard　to　aim。　I　waited　until　he　came　to　a
fallen　tree；　raking　him　as　he　topped　it　with　a　ball；　which　entered　his
chest　and　went　through　the　cavity　of　his　body；　but　he　neither　swerved
nor　flinched；　and　at　the　moment　I　did　not　know　that　I　had　struck　him。
He　came　steadily　on；　and　in　another　second　was　almost　upon　me。　I　fired
for　his　forehead；　but　my　bullet　went　low；　entering　his　open　mouth；
smashing　his　lower　jaw　and　going　into　the　neck。　I　leaped　to　one　side
almost　as