Volume 1

BUFFALO AT BOIS PERCE—BEAR KILLED. 87
eye could reach. The meadows were aHve with them. On
the E. side of the river we now for the first time saw
buffaloes; they appeared to be fully as many as there were
on the W. side. This is the first place we have found in
coming up the river where the plain on that side comes
down to the water and forms an open communication with
that of the W. side. It is from this circumstance that this
spot derives its name of Bois Perce.
As we did not wish to raise the buffalo, we tied our
horses on the spot where I wished my people to camp.
Desmarais and I went after buffalo ; we soon crawled
within gunshot, and each opened fire in turn, keeping ourselves
concealed as much as possible in the long grass. At
every shot they would start, but did not appear inclined
to run off. We both emptied our powder horns, and by
that time several cows were down. Having no more ammunition
we went to dress our cows ; but the herd started and
with them all our wounded cows—not one remained on the
spot. We were mortified to have fired so many shots to no
purpose. We came back to where we had left our horses,
and found the canoes had just arrived.
Whilst we were arranging camp I saw a bear on the E.
side of the river, a little above us, coming down to drink.
I crossed over and followed him ; he soon stopped within
a few paces and ran up a large oak. I shot him between
the shoulders and he fell to the ground like a log, but in a
moment was scampering away as fast as he could. I traced
him by the blood and soon found him sitting under a brushheap,
grumbling and licking his wounds. A second shot
dispatched him. By the hideous scream he uttered when
he fell from the tree I imagined he was coming at me, and
was waiting for him with my second barrel cocked when he
ran off. I went for my two men, and it was hard work for
us three to draw him to the canoe ; he was very fat. I
found that my first ball had gone through his heart. I
was surprised that he should have been so active after a
wound of that kind.