hunting the grisly and other sketches-第15部分

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！


or　cripple　it；　and　as　his　two　companions　ran　forward　they　saw　the　bear
seize　him　with　its　wide…spread　jaws；　forcing　him　to　the　ground。　They
shouted　and　fired；　and　the　beast　abandoned　the　fallen　man　on　the
instant　and　sullenly　retreated　into　the　spruce　thicket；　whither　they
dared　not　follow　it。　Their　friend　was　at　his　last　gasp；　for　the　whole
side　of　the　chest　had　been　crushed　in　by　the　one　bite；　the　lungs
showing　between　the　rent　ribs。

Very　often；　however；　a　bear　does　not　kill　a　man　by　one　bite；　but　after
throwing　him　lies　on　him；　biting　him　to　death。　Usually；　if　no
assistance　is　at　hand；　such　a　man　is　doomed；　although　if　he　pretends
to　be　dead；　and　has　the　nerve　to　lie　quiet　under　very　rough　treatment；
it　is　just　possible　that　the　bear　may　leave　him　alive；　perhaps　after
half　burying　what　it　believes　to　be　the　body。　In　a　very　few
exceptional　instances　men　of　extraordinary　prowess　with　the　knife　have
succeeded　in　beating　off　a　bear；　and　even　in　mortally　wounding　it；　but
in　most　cases　a　single…handed　struggle；　at　close　quarters；　with　a
grisly　bent　on　mischief；　means　death。

Occasionally　the　bear；　although　vicious；　is　also　frightened；　and
passes　on　after　giving　one　or　two　bites；　and　frequently　a　man　who　is
knocked　down　is　rescued　by　his　friends　before　he　is　killed；　the　big
beast　mayhap　using　his　weapons　with　clumsiness。　So　a　bear　may　kill　a
foe　with　a　single　blow　of　its　mighty　fore…arm；　either　crushing　in　the
head　or　chest　by　sheer　force　of　sinew；　or　else　tearing　open　the　body
with　its　formidable　claws；　and　so　on　the　other　hand　he　may；　and　often
does；　merely　disfigure　or　maim　the　foe　by　a　hurried　stroke。　Hence　it
is　common　to　see　men　who　have　escaped　the　clutches　of　a　grisly；　but
only　at　the　cost　of　features　marred　beyond　recognition；　or　a　body
rendered　almost　helpless　for　life。　Almost　every　old　resident　of
western　Montana　or　northern　Idaho　has　known　two　or　three　unfortunates
who　have　suffered　in　this　manner。　I　have　myself　met　one　such　man　in
Helena；　and　another　in　Missoula；　both　were　living　at　least　as　late　as
1889；　the　date　at　which　I　last　saw　them。　One　had　been　partially
scalped　by　a　bear's　teeth；　the　animal　was　very　old　and　so　the　fangs
did　not　enter　the　skull。　The　other　had　been　bitten　across　the　face；
and　the　wounds　never　entirely　healed；　so　that　his　disfigured　visage
was　hideous　to　behold。

Most　of　these　accidents　occur　in　following　a　wounded　or　worried　bear
into　thick　cover；　and　under　such　circumstances　an　animal　apparently
hopelessly　disabled；　or　in　the　death　throes；　may　with　a　last　effort
kill　one　or　more　of　its　assailants。　In　1874　my　wife's　uncle；　Captain
Alexander　Moore；　U。　S。　A。；　and　my　friend　Captain　Bates；　with　some　men
of　the　2nd　and　3rd　Cavalry；　were　scouting　in　Wyoming；　near　the
Freezeout　Mountains。　One　morning　they　roused　a　bear　in　the　open
prairie　and　followed　it　at　full　speed　as　it　ran　towards　a　small　creek。
At　one　spot　in　the　creek　beavers　had　built　a　dam；　and　as　usual　in　such
places　there　was　a　thick　growth　of　bushes　and　willow　saplings。　Just　as
the　bear　reached　the　edge　of　this　little　jungle　it　was　struck　by
several　balls；　both　of　its　forelegs　being　broken。　Nevertheless；　it
managed　to　shove　itself　forward　on　its　hind…legs；　and　partly　rolled；
partly　pushed　itself　into　the　thicket；　the　bushes　though　low　being　so
dense　that　its　body　was　at　once　completely　hidden。　The　thicket　was　a
mere　patch　of　brush；　not　twenty　yards　across　in　any　direction。　The
leading　troopers　reached　the　edge　almost　as　the　bear　tumbled　in。　One
of　them；　a　tall　and　powerful　man　named　Miller；　instantly　dismounted
and　prepared　to　force　his　way　in　among　the　dwarfed　willows；　which　were
but　breast…high。　Among　the　men　who　had　ridden　up　were　Moore　and　Bates；
and　also　the　two　famous　scouts；　Buffalo　Billlong　a　companion　of
Captain　Moore；and　California　Joe；　Custer's　faithful　follower。
California　Joe　had　spent　almost　all　his　life　on　the　plains　and　in　the
mountains；　as　a　hunter　and　Indian　fighter；　and　when　he　saw　the　trooper
about　to　rush　into　the　thicket　he　called　out　to　him　not　to　do　so；
warning　him　of　the　danger。　But　the　man　was　a　very　reckless　fellow　and
he　answered　by　jeering　at　the　old　hunter　for　his　over…caution　in　being
afraid　of　a　crippled　bear。　California　Joe　made　no　further　effort　to
dissuade　him；　remarking　quietly：　〃Very　well；　sonny；　go　in；　it's　your
own　affair。〃　Miller　then　leaped　off　the　bank　on　which　they　stood　and
strode　into　the　thicket；　holding　his　rifle　at　the　port。　Hardly　had　he
taken　three　steps　when　the　bear　rose　in　front　of　him；　roaring　with
rage　and　pain。　It　was　so　close　that　the　man　had　no　chance　to　fire。　Its
fore…arms　hung　useless　and　as　it　reared　unsteadily　on　its　hind…legs；
lunging　forward　at　him；　he　seized　it　by　the　ears　and　strove　to　hold　it
back。　His　strength　was　very　great；　and　he　actually　kept　the　huge　head
from　his　face　and　braced　himself　so　that　he　was　not　overthrown；　but
the　bear　twisted　its　muzzle　from　side　to　side；　biting　and　tearing　the
man's　arms　and　shoulders。　Another　soldier　jumping　down　slew　the　beast
with　a　single　bullet；　and　rescued　his　comrade；　but　though　alive　he　was
too　badly　hurt　to　recover　and　died　after　reaching　the　hospital。
Buffalo　Bill　was　given　the　bear…skin；　and　I　believe　has　it　now。

The　instances　in　which　hunters　who　have　rashly　followed　grislies　into
thick　cover　have　been　killed　or　severely　mauled　might　be　multiplied
indefinitely。　I　have　myself　known　of　eight　cases　in　which　men　have　met
their　deaths　in　this　manner。

It　occasionally　happens　that　a　cunning　old　grisly　will　lie　so　close
that　the　hunter　almost　steps　on　him；　and　he　then　rises　suddenly　with　a
loud；　coughing　growl　and　strikes　down　or　seizes　the　man　before　the
latter　can　fire　off　his　rifle。　More　rarely　a　bear　which　is　both
vicious　and　crafty　deliberately　permits　the　hunter　to　approach　fairly
near　to；　or　perhaps　pass　by；　its　hiding…place；　and　then　suddenly
charges　him　with　such　rapidity　that　he　has　barely　time　for　the　most
hurried　shot。　The　danger　in　such　a　case　is　of　course　great。

Ordinarily；　however；　even　in　the　brush；　the　bear's　object　is　to　slink
away；　not　to　fight；　and　very　many　are　killed　even　under　the　most
unfavorable　circumstances　without　accident。　If　an　unwounded　bear
thinks　itself　unobserved　it　is　not　apt　to　attack；　and　in　thick　cover
it　is　really　astonishing　to　see　how　one　of　these　large　animals　can
hide；　and　how　closely　it　will　lie　when　there　is　danger。　About　twelve
miles　below　my　ranch　there　are　some　large　river　bottoms　and　creek
bottoms　covered　with　a　matted　mass　of　cottonwood；　box…alders；　bull…
berry　bushes；　rosebushes；　ash；　wild　plums；　and　other　bushes。　These
bottoms　have　harbored　bears　ever　since　I　first　saw　them；　but；　though
often　in　company　with　a　large　party；　I　have　repeatedly　beaten　through
them；　and　though　we　must　at　times　have　been　very　near　indeed　to　the
game；　we　never　so　much　as　heard　it　run。

When　bears　are　shot；　as　they　usually　must　be；　in　open　timber　or　on　the
bare　mountain；　the　risk　is　very　much　less。　Hundreds　may　thus　be　killed
with　comparatively　little　danger；　yet　even　under　these　circumstances
they　will　often　charge；　and　sometimes　make　their　charge　good。　The
spice　of　danger；　especially　to　a　man　armed　with　a　good　repeating
rifle；　is　only　enough　to　add　zest　to　the　chase；　and　the　chief　triumph
is　in　outwitting　the　wary　quarry　and　getting　within　range。　Ordinarily
the　only　excitement　is　in　the　stalk；　the　bear　doing　nothing　more　than
keep　a　keen　look…out　and　manifest　the　utmost　anxiety　to　get　away。　As
is　but　natural；　accidents　occasionally　occur；　yet　they　are　usually　due
more　to　some　failure　in　man　or　weapon　than　to　the　prowess　of　the　bear。
A　good　hunter　whom　I　once　knew；　at　a　time　when　he　was　living　in　Butte；
received　fatal　injuries　from　a　bear　he　attacked　in　open　woodland。　The
beast　charged　after　the　first　shot；　but　slackened　its　pace　on　coming
almost　up　to　the　man。　The　latter's　gun　jambed；　and　as　he　was
endeavoring　to　work　it　he　kept　stepping　slowly　back；　facing　the　bear
which　followed　a　few　yards　distant；　snarling　and　threatening。
Unfortunately　while　thus　walking　backwards　the　man　struck　a　dead　log
and　fell　over　it；　whereupon　the　beast　instantly　sprang　on　him　and
mortally　wounded　him　before　help　arrived。

On　rare　occasions　men　who　are　not　at　the　time　hunting　it　fall　victims
to　the　grisly。　This　is　usually　because　they　stumble　on　it　unawares　and
the　animal　attacks　them　more　in　fear　than　in　anger。　One　such　case；
resulting　fatally；　occurred　near　my　own　ranch。　The　man　walked　almost
over　a　bear　while　crossing　a　little　point　of　brush；　in　a　bend　of　the
river；　and　was　brained　with　a　single　blow　of　the　paw。　In　another
instance　which　came　to　my　knowledge　the　man　escaped　with　a　shaking　up；
and　without　even　a　fight。　His　name　was　Perkins；　and　he　was　out
gathering　huckleberries　in　the　woods　on　a　mountain　side　near
Pend'Oreille　Lake。　Suddenly　he　was　sent　flying　head　over　heels；　by　a
blow　which　completely　knocked　the　breath　out　of　his　body；　and　so
instantaneous　was　the　whole　affair　that　all　he　could　ever　recollect
about　it　was　getting　a　vague　glimpse　of　the　bear　just　as　he　was　bowled
over。　When　he　came　to　he　found　himself　lying　some　distance　down　the
hill…side；　much　shaken；　and　without　his　berry　pail；　which　had　rolled　a
hundred　yards　below　him；　but　not　otherwise　the　worse　for　his
misadventure；　while　the　footprints　showed　that　the　bear；　after
delivering　the　single　hurried　stoke　at　the　unwitting　disturber　of　its
day…dreams；　had　run　off　up…hill　as　fast　as　it　was　able。

A　she…bear　with　cubs　is　a　proverbially　dangerous　beast；　yet　even　under
such　conditions　different　grislies　act　in　directly　opposite　ways。　Some
she…grislies；　when　their　cubs　are　young；　but　are　able　to　follow　them
about；　seem　always　worked　up　to　the　highest　pitch　of　anxious　and
jealous　rage；　so　that　they　are　likely　to　attack　unprovoked　any
intruder　or　even　passer…by。　Others　when　threatened　by　the　hunter　leave
their　cubs　to　their　fate　without　a　visible　qualm　of　any　kind；　and　seem
to　think　only　of　their　own　safety。

In　1882　Mr。　Casper　W。　Whitney；　now　of　New　York；　met　with　a　very
singular　adventure　with　a　she…bear　and　cub。　He　was　in　Harvard　when　I
was；　but　left　it　and；　like　a　good　many　other　Harvard　men　of　that　time；
took