Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-01-15

sxA with me as companions.
FSIlU5aS John Willis and an inn
5SfHaXf29 passive looking indian
named Animal Coming
across through the dense coniferous
forests Of northern Idaho we had
struck the Kootenai River. Then we
went down with the current as it
wound IN half circles through a long
alluvial valley OF mixed marsh and
woodland. hemmcd in by lofty NOUN
tains. The lake itself when we reach
ed it, stretched straight away like a
great ford. hundred miles long and
about three in breadth. The frowning
and rugged Selkirks came down sheer
to the waters edge So straight were
the rock walls that it was difficult for
us to land with our batteau. save at
the places where the rapid mountain
torrents entered the lake.
We had come down from a weeks
fruitless hunting in the mountains; a
week of excessive toll. in a country
where we saw no game-for In our ig-
norance we had wasted time. not go
ing straight back to the high ranges,
from which the game Lad not yet de-
seconded. After three or four days of
rest and of feasting on trogt-a well
come relief to the monotony of frying
pan bread and coarsey salt poTk-we
We're ready for another trial; and early
one morning we made the start. Hav-
ing to pack everything for a fortnights
use on our backs. through an excess
lively rough country we of course
Travelled as light as possible, leaving
almost all we had with the tent and
boat
We walked in single file. as is nee
essary in thick woods. The white
hunter led. and followed, each with
rife on shoulder and pack on back.
Animal, the Indian, pigeon toed along
behind, carrying his pack, not as we
did ours, but by help of a forehead
band. which he sometimes shifted
across his breast The travelling
through the tangled, brush choked for
est, and along the bowlder strewn and
precipitous mountain sides. was incon-
ceivably rough and difficult.
An hour or two before sunset we
were travelling. as usual, in Indian
file, beside the stream. through an
open wood of great hemlock trees.
There was no breeze, and we made no
sound as we marched. for our feet
sunk noiselessly into the deep moss.
Suddenly the hunter, who was lead
ing, dropped down in his tracks, point
ing upward; and some fifty feet be-
-, .4,,- Of
a bear as he rose to make Il sweep at
some berries He was in a hollow
where a tall. rank. prickly plant, with |
broad leaves. grew luxuriantly; and he |
was gathering its red berries. rising |
on his hind legs and sweeping them |
down into his mouth with his paw. !
and was much too intent on his work I
to notice US, for his head was pointed |
the other way. The moment he rose |
again | fired, meaning to shoot through |
the shoulders but instead. in the hur-
~, taking him in the neck Down he /
went, but whether hurt or not we
could not see. for the second he was /
on all tours he was no longer visible
Rather TO my surprise he uttered no
sound-fOr bear when hit or when
charging often make a great noise-so
1 raced toward the edge of the hollow,
the hunter close behind me. while Am
NAL danced about in the rear. very
much excited. as Indians always are
in the presence of big game The in
slant we reached the hollow and look
ed down into it from the low bank on
which we stood we saw by the sway
ing of the tail plants that the bear
was coming our way. The hunter was
standing some ten feet distant. hem
lock trunk being between US: and the
next moment the bear sprang clean up
the bank the other side of the hem
lock. and almost within arms length
of my companion. | do not think he
had Intended to charge: he was PROB
ably confused by the bullet through
his neck. and had by chance Numbered
out of the hollow in our direction; but
when he saw the hunter so close he
turned for him. his hair bristling and
his teeth showing The man had no
cartridge in his weapon. and with his
pack on could not have used II any
how: and for a moment it looked as II
lie stood a fair chance OF being hurt
AS the beast sprang out of the hollow
he poised for Il second on the edge OF
the bank TO recover his balance, giving
me a beautiful shot as he stood side
ways to me: the bullet struck between
the eve and ear, and he fell as If hit
with pole axe.
Our prize was large black bear
With two curious brown streaks down
his back. one on each side the spine
We skinned him and eamped by tue
carcass. as it was growing late. 10
take the chill Off the evening air we
built huge fire. the logs roaring ana
10 one side of ii we made
bur beds = of balsam and hemloek
boughs; we did not build 4 brush lean
70. because the night seemed likely TO
be clear. Then we supped on sugar
ace 70, frvino-ran bread and Quantl- Z