To seek the haunts of this new species of bear, I have said that our
hunters would have a long journey to make--even so far as the Great
Slave Lake--for although the Barren Grounds extend many degrees to the
south of this water, the _ursus Richardsonii_; rarely wanders to a lower
latitude. Upon the shores of the Slave Lake, however, they would be
certain to encounter him; and thither they repaired.
They were fortunate in the time of the year. The annual "brigade" of
boats belonging to the Great Fur Company was just setting out from York
Factory, for Norway House on Lake Winnipeg; and thence a division of it
would proceed to the posts still further northward--on Lake Athapescow
and the waters of the Mackenzie River--passing through the Slave Lake
itself. Their object, of course, in their annual journey is to
distribute at the fur stations, the goods, brought from England by the
Company's ships, and in return bring back the peltries collected
throughout the winter.
With the brigade, then, went our hunters; and after enduring, in common
with the others, the hardships and perils incidental to such a long
inland voyage, they at length found themselves at the point of their
destination--Fort Resolution, on the Great Slave Lake, near the mouth of
the river bearing the same appellation. The canoe of an Indian
fisherman--of which there are many dwelling around the shores of this
great inland sea--was soon pressed into service; and with the fisherman
(who of course was a hunter also) for their guide and companion, they
could make convenient excursions along the shores of the lake, land
whenever they pleased, and search for Bruin in the localities where he
was most likely to be encountered. In this they were assisted by their
hired guide; who was not long in putting them upon the trail of a bear.
In fact, in the very first excursion which they made, one of the true
breed was discovered and captured.
The circumstances attending his capture were of no very particular
interest; but as they illustrate one of the habits of this species, we
shall give them as recorded in the journal of Alexis.
They were paddling gently along the shore--through water that was as
calm as a pond--when, at a great distance ahead of them, the Indian
observed a slight rippling upon the surface, and pointed it out. It was
not caused by the wind; for there was not a breath stirring at the time;
and it was not like the whitish curl which a breeze casts upon the
surface of water. It resembled more a series of little wavelets, such
as proceed from a stone plunged into a deep pool, or from a disturbance
of the water caused by the movements of some animal. The Indian said
that it was a bear: though there was no bear, nor any living thing in
sight!
As the canoe moved nearer, our hunters perceived that there was an
indentation on the shore--a little creek or bay out of which the ripples
were proceeding. The guide knew that there was such a bay; and believed
that the bear would be found somewhere within it, swimming about in the
water.
The hunters did not stay to inquire the reason why Bruin should be thus
bathing himself? There was no time: for just at that instant the Indian
beached his canoe; and desired them all to disembark and follow such
further instructions as he might give them. Without hesitation they
accepted his invitation; resolved to act according to his counsel.
The Indian, after making his boat fast, took the route inland, followed
by the other three. After going some three or four hundred yards, he
turned to the left, and conducted the party around the shore of the
bay--which trended in a semicircular or horse-shoe shape. He did not
take all of them around; but only one, whom he stationed on the opposite
side. This was Pouchskin. Ivan he had already placed on the nearer
side, and Alexis at the bottom--so that they were thus set at the three
angles of a triangle, nearly equilateral.
On assigning to each of them his station, the Indian further instructed
them to creep forward among the bushes--which still separated them from
the water--and to do so without making any noise, till they should hear
a "whoop" from himself. This would be the signal for them to show
themselves around the edge of the bay--in the water of which the Indian
hunter was confident a bear was bathing himself. He himself returned to
his canoe.
Agreeably to his instructions, the three hunters crawled forward--each
on his own line of approach, and all observing the greatest caution and
silence. As soon as their eyes rested upon the water, they perceived
the correctness of the Indian's conjecture. A bear there was, sure
enough!
They saw only his head; but this was sufficient for Bruin's
identification: since no similar cranium could have been encountered in
such a place.
As the Indian had apprised them, the bear was swimming about in the bay;
but for what purpose it was at first difficult to make out. To their
astonishment, he swam with his mouth wide open--so that they could see
the interior of his great encarmined palate, while his long tongue
flapped out at intervals, and appeared to sweep the surface of the
water. At intervals, too, he was seen to close his mouth--the huge jaws
coming together with a "clap-clap," the noise of which could be heard
echoing far over the lake!
He did not go long in one course; but ever and anon kept turning
himself, and quartering the bay in every direction.
It was a long time before the spectators could find any explanation of
these odd manoeuvres on the part of the bear. They might have fancied
he was merely taking a cool bath to refresh himself: for the day was
exceedingly hot, and the air was filled with mosquitoes--as our hunters
had already learnt to their great discomfort. It might have been to get
rid of these tormentors that Bruin had submerged his body in the water;
and so Pouchskin concluded, and also Ivan--though both were puzzled by
the odd behaviour of the bear, in swimming open-mouthed, and at
intervals snapping his jaws as he did. Alexis, however, was a better
reasoner; and soon discovered the why and the wherefore of these
mysterious demonstrations. Alexis saw that the surface of the water was
thickly coated with something; and, on scrutinising it more closely, he
made out this something to be a swarm of insects. There appeared to be
more than one species of them--two indeed there were--both about the
size of ordinary gadflies; but altogether different from each other in
colour and habits. One was a sort of water-beetle that swam near the
surface; while the other was a winged insect that occasionally rose into
the air, but more generally crawled along the water--making short runs
from place to place, then stopping a moment, and then darting on again.
The whole surface of the bay--and even out for some distance into the
lake--fairly swarmed with these creatures; and it was in pursuit of them
that Bruin was whisking his tongue so rapidly about, and bringing his
jaws together in such sonorous concussion. The animal was simply
indulging in a favourite meal--which in summer is furnished him not only
on the shores of the Great Slave Lake, but most of the smaller lakes
throughout the Barren Grounds.
Alexis had scarce finished making the observation, when a loud "whoop"
was heard from the direction of the lake; and almost at the same instant
the canoe of the Indian was seen shooting through the water, right for
the entrance of the bay!
Obedient to the signal, the three hunters rushed out from their cover,
and ran forward upon the beech--each holding his gun in readiness to
fire. The bear, seeing himself thus suddenly and unexpectedly
surrounded, at once gave over his fly-trapping; but, irresolute in which
direction to retreat, he turned round and round in the water, first
swimming a bit one way and then another. At length, rearing himself
high above the surface, and showing his sharp teeth, he uttered a deep
growl of rage, and dashed recklessly towards the shore.
It was to Ivan's side he first directed himself; but Ivan was upon the
watch; and, advancing close to the edge of the water, he took aim and
fired.
His bullet struck the bear right upon the snout, and it appeared to have
spun him round--so quickly was he seen heading in the opposite
direction.
It was now Pouchskin's turn; and in a second after the loud report of
the grenadier's gun went booming over the lake, while the ball splashed
the water right into the eyes of the bear. Though it did not hit any
part of his body, it had the effect of half-turning him--so that he now
swam towards Alexis, stationed at the bottom of the bay.
Alexis took the matter more coolly. There was a convenient tree
behind--to which he intended to retreat in case of missing--and this
influenced him to hold his ground, till the bear should come near enough
to ensure a certain aim.
The bear swam straight on, until within some ten yards of where Alexis
was standing; when all at once he appeared to take the rue, and was
turning off to one side. This was just what Alexis desired: it brought
the head of the animal broadside towards him, and, taking steady aim, he
planted his bullet a little under the left ear.
It was a dead shot. The huge creature, loaded with fat, sank instantly
to the bottom; but fortunately the water was shallow; and the Indian now
coming in with his canoe, soon fished up the carcass, and towed it out
upon the beach--where its fur coat was stripped off in a trice.