A BEAR HUNT IN WINTER--MUSTAGAN A FAMOUS INDIAN GUIDE--BEARS' DEN--HOW
DISCOVERED--BOYS' PERPLEXITY--THE JOURNEY TO THE DEN--A COLD MORNING--
THE TELLTALE COLUMN OF STEAM--THE ATTEMPT TO DIG DOWN TO THE BEARS--
TOTAL FAILURE--SUCCESSFUL TUNNELLING OPERATIONS--EXCITING FIGHT IN THE
ICY CAVERN--THE BATTLES BETWEEN THE MEN AND DOGS AND THE ESCAPING BEARS.
A Bear hunt in winter! No wonder the boys were excited when they heard
of it. Yes, that was what it was, and a very interesting one at that.
Mustagan was a famous hunter, as we have already seen. In addition to
that, he was a wonderful guide, and had also been a great traveller. He
had gone several times on great expeditions to the Arctic Ocean. He was
with Sir John Richardson on his memorable search for Sir John Franklin.
He had also gone with Dr Rae and others on similar Arctic exploring
trips. Then this Mustagan was the old Cree Indian who found the silver
spoons and other remains of Sir John Franklin among the Eskimos. Their
recovery gave the final definite knowledge of the tragic ending of that
memorable expedition. These relics of that sad expedition, in which
about a hundred and forty of the bravest of men perished, some of whom
might have been saved if Paulette had been true, are now in the
Greenwich Museum.
But although Mustagan had been long years thus employed he was yet in
the full vigour of life, and as a hunter was unexcelled. He was, like
Big Tom, particularly noted for his skill as a moose hunter, and it was
when out on the tracks of a moose that he made the singular discovery
that led to this bear hunt in winter. When he came over to Sagasta-
weekee with the news that he had some rare sport for the boys they were,
of course, full of curiosity to get all the information.
During the previous summer they had all had their peculiar experiences
in bear fights, but this finding of bears in winter was a revelation, as
they were always taught that the bears, especially in cold countries,
hibernate during the winter; that is, that they den up in some quiet
retreat in the rocks, if possible, and there remain in a semi-
unconscious condition for months together. They generally go in very
fat, and on this fat they keep alive all winter.
"Is it true," said Sam to Mustagan, "that a bear sucks his paws like a
baby does his thumb?"
"That is what is believed by the Indians," said the old man. "But," he
added, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, "I don't remember any one of
us ever having sat up to watch one doing it."
"How in the world did you find out where this bear's den is which you
are inviting us to see?" said Alec.
"Perhaps," said Frank, "he marked it in the fall, like other Indians
mark their beavers' houses."
"No, indeed," said Mustagan. "I never thought of one being in that
place until I found it by the steam."
Here was a bigger mystery than ever.
"Steam!" said Sam; "and where was the engine?"
"Down deep under the snow in a den among the rocks," was the answer
given.
This did not clear up the mystery, but rather added to their curiosity.
"How far away is it?" asked Mr Ross.
"One day's journey," said Mustagan.
So it was decided that on the following Tuesday, if the weather
continued bright and fine, the start would be made very early from
Sagasta-weekee.
"No use going then," said Memotas, "if the days are not bright and cold.
No see any steam if no sunshine."
This was a great perplexity to the boys, and they appealed to Mr Ross
to help them out. But he wished them to have the real surprise that
Mustagan had in store for them, and so he told them to wait until they
could see it for themselves, when on the ground.
The weather was everything that could be desired. On Monday four trains
of dogs, with a full camping outfit and plenty of supplies to last for
five or six days, were prepared. The boys took their guns along with
them and plenty of ammunition. They were going to have their share of
shooting if there was any to be done. Mustagan, with a couple of his
sons and two dog-sleds, arrived very early, and the whole party started
while the stars were still shining. One of Mustagan's sons, who had
been with the old man when the den was discovered, ran on ahead of the
trains as guide. As the trail had been made by Mustagan and his son
when they returned after the discovery of the bears, this made the
travelling more rapid and agreeable.
Three or four times during the day's journey they stopped, and cutting
down some dry trees made up a big roaring fire, at which they warmed
themselves and cooked a hearty meal. About an hour before sundown they
reached the place. As it was too late to do anything that evening in
the way of bear-hunting, it was decided to make the camp and have a good
night's rest. This was not as easy a matter as it had been in some
other places. There was not at any one spot sufficient dry wood for a
good camp, especially if they should be attacked by wolves and thus
require for their safety a good bright fire all night. However, the
matter was arranged by making the dogs help. They were unfastened from
their sleds, and while some of the men cut down the dry trees, wherever
they could be found, the boys and one or two men hitched their dogs to
them and dragged them to the vicinity of the camp, where they were
speedily cut up into the desired lengths. There were numbers of green
balsams around, and so some of these were cut down and so arranged as to
be helpful in keeping off the cold winds. The frozen fish were thawed
for the dogs, and then some of the men prepared the usual supper, which
consisted of the fattest meat that could be obtained. Prayers were
offered after the Evening Hymn had been sung, the beds of fur robes and
blankets were made, and Mr Ross and the boys were soon very thoroughly
tucked in. Nothing unusual disturbed them in the night, although some
of the men had an uneasy half hour, as the dismal howlings of a solitary
wolf in the distance could be distinctly heard. The mournful sounds at
length died away, and the men again went to sleep.
As they were retiring Mustagan told the boys that the steam would be
going best just after sunrise, and so they had better all be up early
and, after a good warm cup of tea and something to eat, be off to see it
and then return to breakfast. Then he said, "After that we will find
out what makes the steam."
There was only the faintest glimmer of the coming dawn when the boys
were called up. My, but it was cold that morning! How the lads did
shiver! Wistfully they looked back at the warm robes and blankets which
the men were rapidly rolling up. Gladly would they have tumbled under
them again, the cold was so terrible, it must have been at least fifty
below zero. It seemed to chill them to the very marrow of their bones.
Their teeth chattered. The tears in their eyes froze into ice. The
breath touching their fur caps, or capotes, instantly became white and
shining. Well was it for them that the fire was brightly burning ere
they were called. Speedily were seats of rolls of blankets prepared for
them, and here, with a big buffalo skin thrown around each one as an
additional protection, they were seated as close to the fire as it was
possible to get without setting their clothes or robes on fire. How
warming and delicious was the tea that morning!--well-sweetened, and
with a lump of cream in it. Cup after cup was taken, and soon the
bitter cold was forgotten.
"Very cold morning," said Mustagan. "Take good breakfast now, then
another good one will be ready when we come back from seeing the steam."
With all the clothing that could well be worn consistent with rapid
snow-shoeing the party soon set off. Their direction from the camp was
due south. As far as the boys could make out the region was full of
great rocky ravines. But the snow covered everything, and it was
evident that the high winds had caused enormous quantities to drift into
the hollows and ravines. Mr Ross and Mustagan were in front, while the
boys and some Indians were not far behind. All at once Mustagan, who
had been on the alert, called Mr Ross's attention to an object which at
first was to him more imaginary than real. Sharp as were his eyes, he
was asked to look upon what to him was at present invisible and
intangible. The party had all now stopped, and each one was
endeavouring to see what already seemed so real to Mustagan.
"O, I see it!" shouted Alec and Sam together. "See, as the sun's rays
fall upon it, it shines like a small bit of a rainbow."
"Yes," said Frank, "I see it, like a thin column of steam lit up by the
morning sun."
Then it was visible to all. For as the sun arose a little higher, and
its full rays fell on it, at the right angle to the spot where our party
now stood, there it was, clear and distinct, a tiny spiral column of
steam rising up in the clear cold air from a great snowy expanse. There
was not a sign of a tree or of a den. Then Mustagan explained that
there was a deep ravine full of the snow, and at the bottom of it some
bears had made their winter's nest in the fall. Whether they had much
of a den or not he did not know. They would find that out when they dug
them out. Anyway, here they were under many feet of snow. The
breathing caused the snow to melt around them and above them, until it
formed an icy crystal roof. Then, as they went on breathing and
breathing, by and by in a little opening it found its way through the
crust and through the fine snow, until it made a small chimney all the
way up to the top; and then he added, "There it comes out, as you see it
now."
Carefully they all walked up to the spot. The opening was not more than
an inch in diameter. It was hardy perceptible. The little bit of steam
froze into the tiniest particles of ice, which were invisible except
when the sun's bright rays shone on them. It was a great curiosity to
the boys. "How many feet below us are the bears?" asked Sam, in tones
so subdued that everybody laughed. But the fact that only a lot of
light snow separated him from he knew not how many savage bears had a
tendency to make him a little nervous, and hence his whispered question.
Glancing over the landscape, and taking notice of the hills in the
distance and the amount of country that the storm had swept over,
Mustagan and Mr Ross came to the conclusion that between twenty and
thirty feet of snow were between them and the icy cave where these bears
were drowsily sleeping away the long winter months. After some further
investigation, and a talk about the best way of getting down to those
bears, the party returned to camp for breakfast.
The snowshoe run back was a vigorous one, and enjoyed on account of the
cold. The second breakfast was dispatched, and the plans talked over
for getting down to the bears. If the snow should be found light and
dry quite a distance down it would be impossible to dig a well-like hole
down to them. If the wind had packed the snow hard as it filled up the
ravine it would be an easy matter. If it were found impracticable to
get to them that way, then they would have to tunnel in from below, in
the valley, until they reached them. A tunnel can always be dug in deep
snow, as the pressure of the mass above sufficiently hardens the snow
near the ground to make it quite possible to accomplish the work. Thus
they discussed various plans, and then decided to go and begin
operations on what seemed the best way when they reached the spot.
Axes, ropes, a big baglike bucket for hauling up snow, snowshovels, and
other things considered necessary were taken along on a couple of dog-
trains to the spot where the steam was quite visible, now that it had
been discovered. After some consultation it was decided to go to a
cluster of trees not far off, and cut down a number of them and build a
kind of platform on the snow directly over the steam orifice, and then
commence the work of digging down to the den below.
Soon all were busy. The men cut down the trees, and the boys claimed
the honour of driving the dogs that dragged the logs to the place where
they were to be used. As the snow over the bears' den was so very deep
the boys had to keep on their snowshoes all the time. It was very
difficult at first for the dogs to get along, but, after the snowshoes
had tramped out the trail a few times, the snow then easily held them
up.
The log platform was built, and in the large space left cleared in the
centre, which was about eight feet square, the work of digging was
commenced. When all the snow was thrown out that could be reached with
the long-handled snowshovels a rude windlass was made, and then the
leather baglike bucket was brought into requisition, and the work went
on as fast as it was possible to haul up the snow and have it dragged
away on the dog-sleds. When the well-like hole was down about fifteen
feet, and they were congratulating themselves that at least half of the
work was accomplished, there was a sudden collapse. The whole thing had
caved in and carried down the platform and all to a distance of eight or
ten feet. Nobody was badly hurt. The two men who were in the bottom at
the time, busily filling up the leather bucket, were hit with some of
the falling logs and nearly buried in the avalanche of snow that seemed
to them to come from every quarter above them. Those who had tumbled in
were more scared than hurt. The difficulty now was to get the men out,
as the sides were so light and yielding.
"Use the dogs to do it," said Frank. And quickly a strong rope was tied
to an empty sled and it was let down to the first man. A strong dog-
train was attached to the other end of the rope.
"Marche!" was shouted, and away went the dogs, and soon there emerged
one of the men who had fallen in. Quickly was he rescued, and speedily
this operation was repeated until the dogs had dragged out all therein
imprisoned.
All this work had gone for nothing. Some other plan must be devised.
Half a day's work gone and nothing to show for it. This was rather
discouraging.
"What is to be tried next?" was asked by several.
"Dinner is next," said Mr Ross. And so away they hurried back to camp,
and there, while eating their well-earned meal, they talked over the
next attempt, and decided to go down where the ravine ended out on a
level place and there begin tunnelling.
When they came back and examined the spot, and measured the drift, they
found that in order to get low enough to reach the bears they would have
to tunnel at least two hundred feet. This meant a lot of heavy work.
But they were there to get those bears, and were bound to succeed. At
first they dug away the snow like a deep trench, until they reached a
place where it was too deep to be thrown out, and then the work of
tunnelling really began. To their delight, they found when they had
gone some way in, that the pressure of the immense mass of snow upon the
lower portion had so packed it that it would not require supports, as
has already been referred to.
They worked in relays with their big shovels, and cut the snow out in
great pieces, which were dragged away by the dogs as fast as the sleds
could be loaded.
That evening, when they stopped work, they estimated that they had cut
about half the way into the bears' den. Then they returned to the camp
for supper and rest, and hoped to be able to finish their work on the
morrow.
That night there was a most beautiful display of the aurora borealis.
Their ever-changing glories delighted and so fascinated the boys that
they were loth to cover up their heads in their camp beds. These
wondrous visions in the North Land exceed in weird beauty anything else
that this wide world can show.
Mr Ross was so anxious that they should get the bears to-day, so that
the whole party could begin the return journey to-morrow, that he had
them all up at such an early hour that they were eating breakfast by
starlight. Just as the sun rose, and the Indians were calling,
"Sagastao! Sagastao!" ("The sun rises!") to each other, they were
already at the tunnel, anxious to resume operations. They had to be
careful now to so run the tunnel that they would directly strike the
bears. So, while the men were digging, Mr Ross and Mustagan were
constantly travelling on their snowshoes with a compass to try and help
the diggers, who were rapidly pushing on their work.
The boys could hardly understand how it was that it could be so cozy and
comfortable in the tunnel while outside the cold was so terrible. To
their surprise, they here learned that there was warmth even in a snow
tunnel. While thus digging away and dragging out the loads, all at once
the dogs became very much excited, and began barking furiously.
Suspecting that it was because of the scent of the bears, which passes a
long distance through the snow, the guns and some axes were immediately
sent for.
"Did you ever shoot a bear?" said Mustagan to Sam.
"I was chased by one once," said Sam, with a laugh. "But I fancy I got
even with him before the summer ended."
"O yes," said Mustagan, with a comical grin, "I do remember now a boy
coming running into the camp with a bear at his heels. That's why your
hair stands up so straight ever since."
Poor Sam, whose hair had a natural tendency to stand on end, said he
thought he had heard enough of that bear story of his, and so was about
blaming the old Indian for being too hard on him, when he was astonished
at hearing him say:
"I want you to be the first to walk into that bears' den with me. Mr
Bear chased you once. You killed some of his relatives since then, but
he has lots of brothers, and perhaps some of them are in this den, and
so now is your chance to teach them a lesson for one of their relatives
making your hair stand up straight. Fact is," added the old Indian, who
had never seen a person with his hair standing up like Sam's, "Indian
thinks you will have to keep killing bears until your hair gets over its
scare and lies down flat again."
This bit of humour from Mustagan amused everybody, and Sam himself
joined heartily in the laugh.
Thus they chatted until the guns and axes arrived. Then the work was
vigorously pursued. The tunnel was dug in further and further, as fast
as the snow could be hauled out. Every time the dogs came in with their
empty sleds they were permitted to remain a few minutes to scent the
bears. As they had quieted down after their first noisy actions it was
decided that they were still a good way off from the bears.
As a precautionary measure Memotas went out and cut a long, slim pole,
which was about twenty feet long. This he pushed in through the snow
ahead of the diggers. By this plan he was able to guard against any
surprise, for he had stated to Mr Ross that, as the snow was so deep,
the den would be found very warm, and he would not be surprised if they
found the bears so wide-awake that they would have a bit of a fight with
them ere they killed them. When this was heard it added much to the
excitement of the whole party, and so while everyone worked with a will
they were all on the alert for some sudden developments.
After Mustagan had pushed in the pole two or three times and found
nothing but the ordinary snow, which was being rapidly dug away, he at
length struck against something hard, which was about fifteen feet in
from the end of the now long tunnel. When the dogs came in for their
last loads Mustagan pulled out the pole and let the dogs put their noses
to the opening. They were simply furious, and at once began most
vigorously to dig into the snow around the hole. Of course, they were
quickly stopped and again fastened to the sleds, which on account of the
narrowness of the tunnel had to be backed in. Cautiously they worked,
and soon were only within four or five feet of the obstruction, whatever
it was, that prevented the pole being pushed along any further.
A consultation was now held, and it was decided to very much enlarge the
end of the tunnel, so that if there was to be much of a fight there
would be room enough for the men to stand up and easily move around.
This enlarging the tunnel and getting out the snow consumed the best
part of an hour. Fortunately, it was not very dark, although they were
so far from daylight in any direction. The pure white snow seems to
throw off a certain amount of light. However, it was warm work, and so
the men frequently went out with the dogs in relays. Once outside they
quickly cooled off and were glad to return. When the enlargement of the
tunnel was about completed, and the men were again engaged in cutting
out great blocks of the snow that was between them and the bears, there
suddenly reached them a perfume so strong as to be almost sickening. No
need of telling anyone who has ever been near a close old bears' den
where they were now.
All the shovels except a couple were quickly dropped, and the weapons
were seized by those who were expected to do the fighting. The
arrangements were speedily made. It was difficult to say how many bears
were in the den. If only two or three, there would not be much trouble
in killing them, but if, as sometimes happened, a number had clubbed
together, there might be as many as eight or ten, and if so there would
be lots of excitement, and perhaps somebody might get hurt. So it was
decided that Mr Ross with Frank and Alec should go out to the mouth of
the tunnel, and there with their weapons remain, with the dogs
unharnessed, and wait for developments, while Mustagan with Sam and the
others would face them in their dens. If any tried to escape through
the tunnel those watching at the mouth would fire at them or run them
down with the dogs.
Cautiously the intervening wall of snow was broken down and trampled
under foot. Listen! There are low growlings heard, and it is evident
that the bears are on the alert. These sounds show that the bears have
long been hearing the noise made by the approach of the tunnellers, and
are getting their courage up for a fight with the disturbers of their
long repose. Mustagan had taken the precaution to bring along some
torches which he had specially made. The principal materials of them
were rolls of birch bark saturated in balsam gum. The gum had been
boiled down, and otherwise so prepared, that when ignited it made a most
brilliant light and yet emitted but little smoke. At length the diggers
came to a wall of icy snow, which was very close and hard. This was the
wall and roof of the whole den. The party attentively listened, and now
the bears were easily heard. Mustagan said:
"Some of them wide-awake, others seem like sleepy boys called early.
They are growling and snarling, and seem to say, `Be quiet and let us
sleep till it is time to get up.' We'll wake you so you will want to
get up in a hurry," added the old man with a chuckle, as he made his
final arrangements.
These were as follows: The men who had been using the shovels were
ordered to exchange them for their heavy axes. With these they were to
at once smash in a place large enough for Mustagan and Sam to step
through. They would each have one of the brightest torches, and so the
old man believed that the sleeping animals would crowd from the
bewildering light to the other side of the den. So the flint and steel
were struck and a light made by one of them, while the axemen now
vigorously broke through the thin glassy wall.
Soon an opening sufficiently large was made, and the old Indian and Sam
fearlessly stepped in, with guns and torches. As anticipated by
Mustagan, the bears, frightened by the brilliant torches, at once
crowded away from the dazzling flames. So he and Sam were safely in,
but it did not take him long to see that they were not altogether safe
in there. My, what a crowd of them! and bears of all sizes too.
"Chop away at the ice," was Mustagan's first command, as he and Sam kept
slowly edging their way around. So numerous were the bears that they
dare not think of letting go their splendid torches that were burning
brightly.
"We are going to try and drive them out," were his next words; and then
the old Indian shouted, "Look out, men, and be ready for them!"
Sam was cool and collected, for he had all confidence in Mustagan, but
he could not help being startled and surprised at the number of the
bears that lay there snarling and growling like a drove of pigs. The
size and beauty of the winter house was also a revelation. As the
winter had advanced the warmth of the bears had caused the icy walls and
roof to keep slowly receding, until now here was a capacious vault-like
room of clearest crystal. As the brilliant light flashed on it, it
seemed like some dream of fairyland. One look, however, at the
startled, growling bears showed that the fierce occupants were anything
but nymphs and fairies. Seeing their numbers, Mustagan quickly called
in a couple more men, with axes and additional torches. Pointing out a
very large one that seemed ready to begin battle at any moment, he said,
"You, Sam, you shoot him fair between the eyes."
Sam at once obeyed. Tremendous was the effect. So confined was the
place that the sound was as though a cannon had been fired. All the
torches were instantly extinguished but one, and the ice cracked and
fell in great pieces around them. Speedily were the torches relighted.
The bears were wide-awake now. Fortunately, the biggest and fiercest
was stone dead. Sam's aim had been sure, and his bullet had done its
work. Mustagan was now so fiercely attacked by the next largest one
that he could not bring up his gun to his shoulder, but he skillfully
fired from his side and sent a bullet into the heart of his assailant.
This quickly finished him. This second report was, if possible, worse
than the first, and so some seconds were lost in relighting the torches.
"Drop your guns," said Mustagan, "and fight with your axes and knives."
And fight they had to, for the bears were now full of fight and each
went for an opponent. Sam bravely tackled a fine two-year-old with his
axe. He raised it and made a desperate blow to try and split the
animal's skull open. But just as he plunged forward to strike the bear
suddenly rose up and with a side blow struck the axe such a clip that it
fairly flew out of Sam's hands, while the lad, unable to keep his
footing, stumbled forward at the bear's hind feet. He was fortunately
able to reach sideways and seize one of the flaming torches that had
been thrown on the ground, and which was still fiercely burning. He was
none too soon, for already the bear's strong forearms were winding round
him for a hug that he would have long remembered. However, as the
blazing torch was pushed into the bear's face it so suddenly singed his
handsome whiskers that he had to throw up his paws to defend his face.
Finding himself thus free again, Sam was quickly on his feet. Drawing
his knife, he was able to look around. Two or three bears were killed
and others wounded, but so carefully were they using their paws in
parrying the blows of the men that they were fairly holding their own.
One man had a shoulder blade broken, and another's crushed ribs were
making him groan.
"Let us drive them out," said Mustagan, and already it was evident that
the bears' quick instinct had enabled them to catch the scent of the
fresh air through the tunnel.
"Run for your lives!" shouted Mustagan to the two men who had been left
in the tunnel, "and tell Mr Ross and the boys to be ready at the mouth
to receive them."
They lost no time in getting out, for they were about half blinded and
suffocated by the smoke of the guns and could render but little service.
They were soon out, and found Mr Ross and the boys ready for the
bears. All were much excited, for they had distinctly heard the two
shots fired inside.
Mustagan, Sam, and the Indians had now wedged themselves so around the
bears that they had them all between them and the opening into the
tunnel. The cunning animals were loth to leave their winter quarters,
and so they very slowly and reluctantly gave ground as Mustagan and the
others, with their flaming torches, gradually forced them on ahead. It
would now have been easy to have shot some of them, but Mustagan was
afraid that as so much of the ice had fallen already from the roof of
the den a few more such reports might find them all buried under the
great mass above them. So he decided to drive the bears out into the
open air, where the fight could be renewed.
At the great opening in the crystal wall the bears made a determined
stand. There were still seven or eight of them unwounded. There they
raised themselves upon their hind feet against the opening, and seemed
to say, "We will not be thus driven out of our house." Beyond this
point it seemed impossible to drive them. The torches would not burn
much longer, and something desperate had to be done. Mustagan, while
fearful of the effects of a powder explosion on the roof, yet resolved
to try one. Skillfully throwing some powder in handfuls at the feet of
the bears, he said to Sam and to the men:
"Get back as far as possible, before I fire this train of powder. Pull
your caps over your eyes, and put your heads to the ground."
Then he plunged one of the torches into the little train of gunpowder
that reached from him to the bears. Away flew the little stream of fire
across the den, and then there was a commotion. The powder went off in
sheets and tongues. The bears went off also. They did not stand on
ceremony now. They could not stand such a fiery house, and so they
wanted to get out of it as quickly as possible. With growls and snarls
away they hurried, while Mustagan and Sam and the rest, with the
expiring torches and noisy yells, followed quickly after, keeping them
on the move. Mr Ross and the others heard them coming. They had
wisely retired a little from the mouth of the tunnel, so as to let the
bears get well out before they should catch sight of these new
assailants. At the mouth of the tunnel, as they caught the cold air, so
different from the comfortable quarters they had left, there was a
decided desire on the part of the bears to retrace their steps, but that
horrid din and those blazing torches were just behind, and so they made
a break for the distant forest, which was quite visible across the snowy
waste.
"Fire now!" was the cry. And the guns of Mr Ross, Alec, and Frank rang
out, and a couple of bears tumbled over, one of which quickly regained
his feet and was off after his comrades. Unfortunately, the man holding
the six dogs that had been unharnessed could no longer restrain them,
and so they were off after the bears. This was a great annoyance to the
men who had guns and were now emerging from the tunnel. They dare not
now fire at the bears, for fear of hurting the dogs. The snow on the
open plain was not more than a foot deep, and so the bears, as well as
the dogs, could make very good speed. Some time was lost ere the men
and boys could get their snowshoes on and take up the chase. It was a
great fight. Some foolish dog would close in on a bear and would get a
hug that sent him howling back. Others were wiser and went in pairs.
When they overtook a bear they immediately separated, one rushing to the
front, while the other remained behind. Thus they keep at him and, as a
general thing, so thoroughly engage his attention that the hunter can
come up and shoot him at his leisure. In this way Frank and Alec were
each able to get a shot at a couple of bears, which they easily killed
without any great risk to themselves.
A single dog has hardly any chance with a large bear, as one of Frank's
train found to his cost. Pluckily he rushed in and made a gallant
effort to seize the bear by the throat, but the powerful forearms gave
him a hug so terrible that he was so crushed that he had to be shot to
be put out of misery. His ribs were found broken like clay pipe-stems.
Poor Frank dropped a few honest tears over Swag's grave, which was only
a hole in the deep snow. This death was the first break in any of the
boys' teams, and although another fine dog took poor Swag's place, it
was long before the boys ceased talking about him and his sad end.
Some of the fleeter bears succeeded in reaching the trees, but they made
there in the bitter cold but a sorry fight, and were soon all killed.
For the first time almost for hours, now that the last bear was killed,
one and all began to feel the terrible cold, and no wonder. Such had
been the excitement of the last few hours that they had not noticed that
it was long past the dinner hour, and, when eating is neglected in such
a temperature, much suffering will quickly follow. So the cry was,
"Back to the camp!" No second order was necessary, and great was the
delight of the boys to find that some one more level-headed and less
excited had long since returned and had a bountiful dinner awaiting
everyone.
It was too late to return home that day, and so a swift runner was sent
back for additional sleds, while the men, under Mustagan's guidance,
with the dogs available--and they were not many--dragged the bears to
the camp, and there during the evening and night carefully skinned them
and cut up the meat.
Mr Ross and the boys, who were thoroughly tired, wrapped themselves
well up in their robes and rested in the camp, feeling that they had had
enough excitement for that day. This unique experience of bear-hunting
in the depth of winter was often talked about in after years. Many
sceptics scoffed at it as a dream, but they who were in it knew better.
Frank never forgot poor Swag's sad end, and for long days he mourned the
loss of his faithful dog.