near the joining of the neck and shoulder； the bullet going downwards
into the chest hollow； and again by a quick dash to one side he just
avoided the rush of the beast and the sweep of its mighty forepaw。 The
bear then halted for a minute； and he rode close by it at a run；
firing a couple of shots； which brought on another resolute charge。
The ground was somewhat rugged and broken； but his pony was as quick
on its feet as a cat； and never stumbled； even when going at full
speed to avoid the bear's first mad rushes。 It speedily became so
excited； however； as to render it almost impossible for the rider to
take aim。 Sometimes he would come up close to the bear and wait for it
to charge； which it would do； first at a trot； or rather rack； and
then at a lumbering but swift gallop； and he would fire one or two
shots before being forced to run。 At other times； if the bear stood
still in a good place； he would run by it； firing as he rode。 He spent
many cartridges； and though most of them were wasted occasionally a
bullet went home。 The bear fought with the most savage courage；
champing its bloody jaws； roaring with rage； and looking the very
incarnation of evil fury。 For some minutes it made no effort to flee；
either charging or standing at bay。 Then it began to move slowly
towards a patch of ash and wild plums in the head of a coulie； some
distance off。 Its pursuer rode after it； and when close enough would
push by it and fire； while the bear would spin quickly round and
charge as fiercely as ever； though evidently beginning to grow weak。
At last； when still a couple of hundred yards from cover the man found
he had used up all his cartridges； and then merely followed at a safe
distance。 The bear no longer paid heed to him； but walked slowly
forwards； swaying its great head from side to side； while the blood
streamed from between its half…opened jaws。 On reaching the cover he
could tell by the waving of the bushes that it walked to the middle
and then halted。 A few minutes afterwards some of the other cowboys
rode up； having been attracted by the incessant firing。 They
surrounded the thicket； firing and throwing stones into the bushes。
Finally； as nothing moved； they ventured in and found the indomitable
grisly warrior lying dead。
Cowboys delight in nothing so much as the chance to show their skill
as riders and ropers； and they always try to ride down and rope any
wild animal they come across in favorable ground and close enough up。
If a party of them meets a bear in the open they have great fun； and
the struggle between the shouting； galloping； rough…riders and their
shaggy quarry is full of wild excitement and not unaccompanied by
danger。 The bear often throws the noose from his head so rapidly that
it is a difficult matter to catch him； and his frequent charges
scatter his tormentors in every direction while the horses become wild
with fright over the roaring； bristling beastfor horses seem to
dread a bear more than any other animal。 If the bear cannot reach
cover； however； his fate is sealed。 Sooner or later； the noose
tightens over one leg； or perchance over the neck and fore…paw； and as
the rope straightens with a 〃plunk；〃 the horse braces itself
desperately and the bear tumbles over。 Whether he regains his feet or
not the cowboy keeps the rope taut； soon another noose tightens over a
leg； and the bear is speedily rendered helpless。
I have known of these feats being performed several times in northern
Wyoming； although never in the immediate neighborhood of my ranch。 Mr。
Archibald Roger's cowhands have in this manner caught several bears；
on or near his ranch on the Gray Bull； which flows into the Bighorn；
and those of Mr。 G。 B。 Grinnell have also occasionally done so。 Any
set of moderately good ropers and riders； who are accustomed to back
one another up and act together； can accomplish the feat if they have
smooth ground and plenty of room。 It is； however； indeed a feat of
skill and daring for a single man； and yet I have known of more than
one instance in which it has been accomplished by some reckless knight
of the rope and the saddle。 One such occurred in 1887 on the Flathead
Reservation； the hero being a half…breed； and another in 1890 at the
mouth of the Bighorn； where a cowboy roped； bound； and killed a large
bear single…handed。
My friend General 〃Red〃 Jackson； of Bellemeade； in the pleasant mid…
county of Tennessee； once did a feat which casts into the shade even
the feats of the men of the lariat。 General Jackson； who afterwards
became one of the ablest and most renowned of the Confederate cavalry
leaders； was at the time a young officer in the Mounted Rifle
Regiment； now known as the 3rd United States Cavalry。 It was some
years before the Civil War； and the regiment was on duty in the
Southwest； then the debatable land of Comanche and Apache。 While on a
scout after hostile Indians； the troops in their march roused a large
grisly which sped off across the plain in front of them。 Strict orders
had been issued against firing at game； because of the nearness of the
Indians。 Young Jackson was a man of great strength； a keen swordsman；
who always kept the finest edge on his blade； and he was on a swift
and mettled Kentucky horse； which luckily had but one eye。 Riding at
full speed he soon overtook the quarry。 As the horse hoofs sounded
nearer； the grim bear ceased its flight； and whirling round stood at
bay； raising itself on its hind…legs and threatening its pursuer with
bared fangs and spread claws。 Carefully riding his horse so that its
blind side should be towards the monster； the cavalryman swept by at a
run； handling his steed with such daring skill that he just cleared
the blow of the dreaded fore…paw； while with one mighty sabre stroke
he cleft the bear's skull； slaying the grinning beast as it stood
upright。
CHAPTER V。
THE COUGAR。
No animal of the chase is so difficult to kill by fair still…hunting
as the cougarthat beast of many names； known in the East as panther
and painter； in the West as mountain lion； in the Southwest as Mexican
lion； and in the southern continent as lion and puma。
Without hounds its pursuit is so uncertain that from the still…
hunter's standpoint it hardly deserves to rank as game at allthough；
by the way； it is itself a more skilful still…hunter than any human
rival。 It prefers to move abroad by night or at dusk； and in the
daytime usually lies hid in some cave or tangled thicket where it is
absolutely impossible even to stumble on it by chance。 It is a beast
of stealth and rapine； its great； velvet paws never make a sound； and
it is always on the watch whether for prey or for enemies； while it
rarely leaves shelter even when it thinks itself safe。 Its soft；
leisurely movements and uniformity of color make it difficult to
discover at best； and its extreme watchfulness helps it； but it is the
cougar's reluctance to leave cover at any time； its habit of slinking
off through the brush； instead of running in the open； when startled；
and the way in which it lies motionless in its lair even when a man is
within twenty yards； that render it so difficult to still…hunt。
In fact it is next to impossible with any hope of success regularly to
hunt the cougar without dogs or bait。 Most cougars that are killed by
still…hunters are shot by accident while the man is after other game。
This has been my own experience。 Although not common； cougars are
found near my ranch； where the ground is peculiarly favorable for the
solitary rifleman； and for ten years I have； off and on； devoted a day
or two to their pursuit； but never successfully。 One December a large
cougar took up his abode on a densely wooded bottom two miles above
the ranch house。 I did not discover his existence until I went there
one evening to kill a deer； and found that he had driven all the deer
off the bottom； having killed several； as well as a young heifer。 Snow
was falling at the time； but the storm was evidently almost over； the
leaves were all off the trees and bushes； and I felt that next day
there would be such a chance to follow the cougar as fate rarely
offered。 In the morning by dawn I was at the bottom； and speedily
found his trail。 Following it I came across his bed； among some cedars
in a dark； steep gorge； where the buttes bordered the bottom。 He had
evidently just left it； and I followed his tracks all day。 But I never
caught a glimpse of him； and late in the afternoon I trudged wearily
homewards。 When I went out next morning I found that as soon as I
abandoned the chase； my quarry； according to the uncanny habit
sometimes displayed by his kind； coolly turned likewise； and
deliberately dogged my footsteps to within a mile of the ranch house；
his round footprints being as clear as writing in the snow。
This was the best chance of the kind that I ever had； but again and
again I have found fresh signs of cougar； such as a lair which they
had just left； game they had killed； or one of our venison caches
which they had robbed； and have hunted for them all day without
success。 My failures were doubtless due in part to various
s