Even old hunters--who indeed, as a class, are very narrow-minded and opinionated--often generalize just as rashly as beginners.

One will portray all bears as very dangerous; another will speak and act as if he deemed them of no more consequence than so many rabbits.

I knew one old hunter who had killed a score without ever seeing one show fight.

On the other hand, Dr.James C.Merrill, U.
S.A., who has had about as much experience with bears as I have had, informs me that he has been charged with the utmost determination three times.

In each case the attack was delivered before the bear was wounded or even shot at, the animal being roused by the approach of the hunter from his day bed, and charging headlong at them from a distance of twenty or thirty paces.