ituation the hunter prefers to fire at its mouth, because if
shot in the heart, the bear can still lunge at the hunter before it
falls, but if struck in the mouth, the brute is dazed and stops to rub
its face; meanwhile, the hunter has a chance to re-load and try for a
shot behind the ear, as that is even more fatal than one in the heart.
But if the bear happens to be in a tree, the hunter does not try for
either the brain or the heart, because the former is usually out of
aim, and the latter is protected by the trunk or limb of the tree; so
he shoots at the small of the back for that will paralyze it and cause
it to let go hold of the tree, and drop to the ground. The fall will
leave very little fight in it, or will finish it altogether. But if
hit in the head or even in a paw, the chances are that the bear will
jump; and then watch out, for it will either run or fight!

"In hunting bears, however, the hunter must remember that he should
guard most against scent and sound betraying him, since a bear's sight
is not very keen. If the bear happens to be feeding, the hunter may
easily approach, provided that the wind is right and he keeps quiet;
but if the bear hears the slightest sound or catches a single whiff of
scent--away he goes! If, however, the hunter approaches in an open
place and the bear, seeing him, sits up to get a better look, the
hunter should immediately stand perfectly still, and wait thus until
the bear again resumes feeding or moves away. Then the hunter rushes
forward, but all the while watches keenly to see when it stops to look
again; and at the first sign of that the hunter becomes rigid once
more. Such tactics may be successful two or three times but rarely
more, so then the hunter had best fire. Now, my son, when you go
hunting you will know what to do, and if Amik would only pay attention
to what I say, he, too, might become a better hunter, for I have had
much experience in hunting both black and grizzly bears."

NEYKIA AND HER LOVER

As the weeks passed, the children devoted themselves to their winter
play and spent most of their days in the open air. Tobogganing was
their greatest sport. Often did they invite me to take part in this,
and whenever, in descending a slope, a sled-load was upset, it always
created hilarious laughter.

The younger children, even during the severest part of the winter when
it registered forty or more degrees below zero, were always kept
comfortably wa