DETECT MOCCASIN TRACKS.185

CHAPTER XVIII.

ANOTHER BEAR CHASE ..LOSS OF DOGS , DISCOVER
MOCCASIN TRACKS - FOLLOW INDIAN TRAIL--
COME TO INDIAN TENT--DISPUTE ABOUT GAME,
RECOVERY OF DOG -INDIANS GIVE UP RETURN
HOME WITH PROCEEDS OF HUNT.

IN the winter of 1857, I started one morning with two of my boys for a bear chase. I had three dogs, two of them well trained in bear-hunting. We very early started one, and I sent my dogs in rapid pursuit. We followed as fast as we could, and after traveling several miles, came in the place where the dogs had treed him, but could not keep him. We started on the chase in Henry County, and at two o'clock we were pretty deep in Wood County. At this time we came upon two moccasin tracks, which indicated that Indians had been in pursuit of the bear. I then started on a fast race, for I did not believe there was any biped that could outrun me in a bear chase. But my boys were at that age unequal to the task of overtaking the fleet-footed Indian, I judged too, by the length of the jumps they had made, that we were not gaining ground. The boys soon lagged in the chase, and were quite unwilling, that I should leave them; so we built our fire, ate some cakes that we had brought in our pockets,

186THE OHIO HUNTER.

and laid down and slept. In the morning I concluded if it were not for the boys I would follow the Indians to their camp--they having no relish for so long a march; so I started for home with them. When we came into the road that would lead them home, I returned, bound for the Indian camp.

The day before this, two of my dogs had returned, but one was missing. Two or three weeks previous to this, I had chased a bear into the same woods and left him, and in the chase lost two of my dogs, one only having returned. I was now as earnest about the regaining of my dog as the capture of the bear, being quite satisfied that the Indians had both in their possession before this time. I came upon the trail and followed it to the camp. I there found two large, athletic Indians lying on. the ground asleep, my dog sleeping also in the corner of the tent, and the skin of a monstrous bear hanging on the outside. I asked the Indian, who immediately awoke, if he caught a bear yesterday.? He replied that he did.

"You caught one last week, too, did you not ?"
" Yes," responded the Indian.
"Did your dog catch him alone ?" said I
"No; there was another dog with him."
"Why did you not keep the other dog, too ?"
"He no stay with Indian."
While we were talking, Madge having been

INDIANS FOILED.187

awakened by the sound, and recognizing his master's voice, came bounding out of the tent, and leaped about me in an ecstasy of delight. The Indians observing this, hallooed at the dog, who did not notice their admonitions now that he was once more under the protection of his old master. The Indians very soon saw that the dog knew me, and their countenances fell. They would not answer any more questions about the chase, but suddenly became very sullen and morose. I told the Indians this was my bear they had caught, and I was going to have it, that the other was mine too, but they might have that for their trouble; but this I should take myself. They did not like this disposition of their game, and one said, "No, me give you two dollars and keep the bear." I told him no, I would have the bear-skin, and the dog too; and if my dogs chased any more bear into the woods and they caught them, I should take them from them, and accordingly shouldered the skin and started for home. The Indians cast after me an angry look, but durst not follow me. Soon after this, I came across another old residenter, that had baffled the pursuit of many hunters, and destroyed the life of many a valuable dogs. My dogs had frequently attacked him, but always without success. This time, I chanced to come across another old bear-hunter, and we united our forces, and went in pursuit of the bear.

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Soon we came within hearing of the two sets of dogs, where they were fighting the bear. We hastened to the spot, and found the snow covered with blood, and one of my dogs lying on the ground badly wounded. The bear escaped from them and ran for a short distance, then they caught him again after another severe contest, in which the dogs proved most too much for the bear; but he again eluded their grasp and ran up a tree. When we came to him, he sat there looking down from his elevated position quite defiantly upon his pursuers. We allowed him to enjoy the supremacy of his situation for some minutes, while we made the necessary arrangements for bringing him down successfully. My eyesight at that time being very poor, I advised my friend Rowland to shoot, telling him I would endeavor it possible to hit. the bear on the head as he descended, and make his death certain; for if he came down only wounded, it would greatly endanger the lives of our dogs, which we prized so highly.

He did not follow my advice, but aimed at his heart, and missing that, the ball entered his fore leg, doing it no serious injury. The enraged animal now came down from the tree with great rapidity. I shot at him as he was coming down, but missed him. As soon as he reached the ground the dogs clinched him, and I ran up with the ax; but when he saw me coming toward him he started and by his immense strength succeeded

HAVOC AMONG THE DOGS.189

in running faster, carrying the dogs along with him, than I could follow. After he thought he thought he had gained a sufficient distance, he stopped, and commenced knocking the dogs off with his paws. One of my large dogs he gave a violent blow back of the shoulder, crushing in three of his ribs which shortly afterward caused his death. The dogs were all whipped now but two, one was mine, the other belonged to my friend. They fought bravely until the desperate animal was again treed. The gigantic beast went up a large sycamore, entered a hole in the top, and came down inside to the ground. I commenced cutting a hole in the tree while my friend watched the hole in the top to see that our antagonist did not descend up us unobserved.

As soon as I had made a hole in the tree large enough, the bear came and tried to get out. My friend who was watching narrowly all of his movements, took advantage of the opportunity and shot him, without doing him much injury, however. He then came up and peeped out cautiously again, and I shot him in the eye. This only increased his rage. We continued shooting until we had lodged ten balls in his head. We thought that surely was a. sufficient number, and as he lay down quietly, concluded he was dead. We then proceeded to cut a hole large enough to take him from his asylum, but when we reached in our hands to bring, out our prisoner, he sprang

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up ready for fight. I then took the edge of the ax to his head, which proved more effectual than all the bullets. We then took him from the tree and got a team to draw him home. He was a very large male bear, with the marks of many a fight in which he had proved victorious. He was worth sixty dollars.