they may get a shot at him。 The weapons used are rifles； shotguns； and
occasionally revolvers。
Sometimes； however； the hunter uses the knife。 General Wade Hampton；
who has probably killed more black bears than any other man living in
the United States； frequently used the knife； slaying thirty or forty
with this weapon。 His plan was； when he found that the dogs had the
bear at bay； to walk up close and cheer them on。 They would instantly
seize the bear in a body； and he would then rush in and stab it behind
the shoulder； reaching over so as to inflict the wound on the opposite
side from that where he stood。 He escaped scathless from all these
encounters save one； in which he was rather severely torn in the
forearm。 Many other hunters have used the knife； but perhaps none so
frequently as he； for he was always fond of steel； as witness his
feats with the 〃white arm〃 during the Civil War。
General Hampton always hunted with large packs of hounds； managed
sometimes by himself and sometimes by his negro hunters。 He
occasionally took out forty dogs at a time。 He found that all his dogs
together could not kill a big fat bear； but they occasionally killed
three…year…olds； or lean and poor bears。 During the course of his life
he has himself killed； or been in at the death of； five hundred bears；
at least two thirds of them falling by his own hand。 In the year just
before the war he had on one occasion； in Mississippi； killed sixty…
eight bears in five months。 Once he killed four bears in a day； at
another time three； and frequently two。 The two largest bears he
himself killed weighed； respectively； 408 and 410 pounds。 They were
both shot in Mississippi。 But he saw at least one bear killed which
was much larger than either of these。 These figures were taken down at
the time； when the animals were actually weighed on the scales。 Most
of his hunting for bear was done in northern Mississippi； where one of
his plantations was situated； near Greenville。 During the half century
that he hunted； on and off； in this neighborhood； he knew of two
instances where hunters were fatally wounded in the chase of the black
bear。 Both of the men were inexperienced； one being a raftsman who
came down the river； and the other a man from Vicksburg。 He was not
able to learn the particulars in the last case； but the raftsman came
too close to a bear that was at bay； and it broke through the dogs；
rushed at and overthrew him； then lying on him； it bit him deeply in
the thigh； through the femoral artery； so that he speedily bled to
death。
But a black bear is not usually a formidable opponent； and though he
will sometimes charge home he is much more apt to bluster and bully
than actually to come to close quarters。 I myself have but once seen a
man who had been hurt by one of these bears。 This was an Indian。 He
had come on the beast close up in a thick wood； and had mortally
wounded it with his gun； it had then closed with him； knocking the gun
out of his hand； so that he was forced to use his knife。 It charged
him on all fours； but in the grapple； when it had failed to throw him
down； it raised itself on its hind legs； clasping him across the
shoulders with its fore…paws。 Apparently it had no intention of
hugging； but merely sought to draw him within reach of his jaws。 He
fought desperately against this； using the knife freely； and striving
to keep its head back； and the flow of blood weakened the animal； so
that it finally fell exhausted； before being able dangerously to
injure him。 But it had bitten his left arm very severely； and its
claws had made long gashes on his shoulders。
Black bears； like grislies； vary greatly in their modes of attack。
Sometimes they rush in and bite； and again they strike with their
fore…paws。 Two of my cowboys were originally from Maine； where I knew
them well。 There they were fond of trapping bears and caught a good
many。 The huge steel gins； attached by chains to heavy clogs；
prevented the trapped beasts from going far； and when found they were
always tied tight round some tree or bush； and usually nearly
exhausted。 The men killed them either with a little 32…calibre pistol
or a hatchet。 But once did they meet with any difficulty。 On this
occasion one of them incautiously approached a captured bear to knock
it on the head with his hatchet； but the animal managed to partially
untwist itself； and with its free fore…arm made a rapid sweep at him；
he jumped back just in time； the bear's claws tearing his clothes
after which he shot it。 Bears are shy and have very keen noses； they
are therefore hard to kill by fair hunting； living； as they generally
do； in dense forests or thick brush。 They are easy enough to trap；
however。 Thus； these two men； though they trapped so many； never but
once killed them in any other way。 On this occasion one of them； in
the winter； found in a great hollow log a den where a she and two
well…grown cubs had taken up their abode； and shot all three with his
rifle as they burst out。
Where they are much hunted； bear become purely nocturnal； but in the
wilder forests I have seen them abroad at all hours； though they do
not much relish the intense heat of noon。 They are rather comical
animals to watch feeding and going about the ordinary business of
their lives。 Once I spent half an hour lying at the edge of a wood and
looking at a black bear some three hundred yards off across an open
glade。 It was in good stalking country； but the wind was unfavorable
and I waited for it to shiftwaited too long as it proved； for
something frightened the beast and he made off before I could get a
shot at him。 When I first saw him he was shuffling along and rooting
in the ground； so that he looked like a great pig。 Then he began to
turn over the stones and logs to hunt for insects； small reptiles； and
the like。 A moderate…sized stone he would turn over with a single clap
of his paw； and then plunge his nose down into the hollow to gobble up
the small creatures beneath while still dazed by the light。 The big
logs and rocks he would tug and worry at with both paws； once； over…
exerting his clumsy strength； he lost his grip and rolled clean on his
back。 Under some of the logs he evidently found mice and chipmunks；
then； as soon as the log was overturned； he would be seen jumping
about with grotesque agility； and making quick dabs here and there； as
the little； scurrying rodent turned and twisted； until at last he put
his paw on it and scooped it up into his mouth。 Sometimes； probably
when he smelt the mice underneath； he would cautiously turn the log
over with one paw； holding the other lifted and ready to strike。 Now
and then he would halt and sniff the air in every direction； and it
was after one of these halts that he suddenly shuffled off into the
woods。
Black bears generally feed on berries； nuts； insects； carrion； and the
like； but at times they take to killing very large animals。 In fact；
they are curiously irregular in their food。 They will kill deer if
they can get at them； but generally the deer are too quick。 Sheep and
hogs are their favorite prey； especially the latter； for bears seem to
have a special relish for pork。 Twice I have known a black bear kill
cattle。 Once the victim was a bull which had got mired； and which the
bear deliberately proceeded to eat alive； heedless of the bellows of
the unfortunate beast。 On the other occasion； a cow was surprised and
slain among some bushes at the edge of a remote pasture。 In the
spring； soon after the long winter sleep； they are very hungry； and
are especially apt to attack large beasts at this time； although
during the very first days of their appearance； when they are just
breaking their fast； they eat rather sparingly； and by preference the
tender shoots of green grass and other herbs； or frogs and crayfish；
it is not for a week or two that they seem to be overcome by lean；
ravenous hunger。 They will even attack and master that formidable
fighter the moose； springing at it from an ambush as it passesfor a
bull moose would surely be an overmatch for one of them if fronted
fairly in the open。 An old hunter； whom I could trust； told me that he
had seen in the snow in early spring the place where a bear had sprung
at two moose； which were trotting together； he missed his spring； and
the moose got off； their strides after they settled down into their
pace being tremendous； and showing how thoroughly they were
frightened。 Another time he saw a bear chase a moose into a lake；
where it waded out a little distance； and then turned to bay； bidding
defiance to his pursuer； the latter not daring to approach in the
water。 I have been toldbut cannot vouch for itthat instances have
been known where the bear； maddened by hunger； has gone in on a moose
thus standing at bay； only to be beaten down under the water by the
terrible fore…hoofs of the quarry； and to yield its life in the
contest。 A lumberman told me that he once saw a moose； evidently much
startled； trot through a swamp； and immediately afterwards a bear came
up following the tracks。 He almost ran into the man； and was evidently
not in a good temper； for he growled and blustered； and two or three