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.