Bruin Part 17

In this way went horse and bear for half a mile over the plain; the spectators following after to witness the ending of the affair. About that there was nothing particular: for when the tigrero at length halted, and the party got up to the ground, they saw only an immobile ma.s.s of s.h.a.ggy hair--so coated with dust as to resemble a heap of earth.

It was the bear without a particle of breath in his body; but, lest he might recover it again, the tigrero leaped from his horse, stepped up to the prostrate bear, and buried his _machete_ between the ribs of the unconscious animal.

That, he said, was the way they captured bears in his part of the country. They did not employ the same plan with the jaguars: because these animals, crouching, as they do, offered no opportunity for casting the noose over them; and, besides, the jaguars haunt only among thick woods, where the lazo could not be used to advantage.

Of course, the skin of this particular bear was not suitable for the purpose for which one was required; and the tigrero kept it for his own profit. But that did not signify: another bear was soon discovered among the tagua trees; and this being despatched by a shot from the rifle of Alexis,--supplemented, perhaps, by a bullet from the fusil of the ex-guardsman,--supplied them with a skin according to contract; and so far as the _ursus frugilegus_ was concerned, their bear-hunting in that neighbourhood was at an end. To find his cousin with the "goggle eyes," they would have to journey onward and upward; and adopting for their motto the spirit-stirring symbol "Excelsior!" they proceeded to climb the stupendous Cordilleras of the Andes.

In one of the higher valleys, known among Peruvians as the "Sierra,"

they obtained a specimen of the "Huc.u.mari." They chanced upon this creature while he was engaged in plundering a field of Indian corn-- quite close to a "tambo," or traveller's shed, where they had put up for the night. It was very early in the morning when the corn-stealer was discovered; but being caught in the act, and his whole attention taken up with the sweet milky ears of maize, his "spectacled" eyes did not avail him. Our hunters, approaching with due caution, were able to get so near, that the first shot tumbled him over among the stalks.

Having secured his skin, they mounted their mules, and by the great Cordillera road proceeded onward to the ancient capital of northern Peru.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

NORTHWARD!

After resting some days in the old capital of Quito, our travellers proceeded to the small port of Barbacoas, on the west coast of Equador; and thence took pa.s.sage for Panama. Crossing the famous isthmus to Porto Bello, they shipped again for New Orleans, on the Mississippi. Of course, their next aim was to procure the North American bears-- including the Polar, which is equally an inhabitant of northern Asia, but which, by the conditions of their route, would be more conveniently reached on the continent of North America. Alexis knew that the black bear (_ursus america.n.u.s_) might be met with anywhere on that continent from the sh.o.r.es of Hudson's Bay to the isthmus of Panama, and from the seaboard of the Atlantic to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. No other has so wide a range as this species--with the exception, perhaps, of the brown bear of Europe--which, as we have said, is also an Asiatic animal.

Throughout the whole extent of country above defined, the black bear may be encountered, not specially confining himself to mountain-ranges.

True, in the more settled districts he has been driven to these--as affording him a refuge from the hunter; but in his normal condition he is by no means a mountain-dwelling animal. On the contrary, he affects equally the low-wooded bottoms of ravines, and is as much at home in a climate of tropical or sub-tropical character, as in the cold forests of the Canadas.

Mr Spencer Baird--the naturalist intrusted by the American Government to describe the _fauna_ of their territory, and furnished for his text with one of the most splendid collections ever made--in speaking of the genus _ursus_, makes the following remarks:--

"The species of bears are not numerous, nor are they to be found except in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. North America possesses more species than any other part of the world, having at least four, and perhaps five."

With the exception of the very idle a.s.sertion that "the species of bears are not numerous," every idea put forth in the above categorical declaration is the very reverse of what is true.

Is the polar bear found only in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere? Is the _ursus arctos_ of Europe confined to these limits?

Are the bears of South America?--the sloth bear of India and Ceylon?-- the bruang of Borneo?--and his near congener, the bruang of Java and Sumatra? Why, these last are actually dwellers among palm-trees--as the cocoa-planters know to their cost! Even Mr Baird's own American black bear is not so "temperate" in his habits; but loves the half-tropical climate of Florida and Texas quite as much as the cold declivities of the Alleghanies.

And how does North America possess more species than any other part of the world? Even admitting the doubtful fifth, on the continent of Asia there are six species at the very least; and, if we are allowed to include the Oriental islands, we make eight Asiatic. There are three species in the Himalaya mountains alone--unquestionably distinct, dwelling in separate zones of alt.i.tude, but with the territory of all three visible at a single _coup d'oeil_.

Mr Baird is a naturalist of great celebrity in America. He is a secretary of the Smithsonian Inst.i.tution: he should make better use of the books which its fine library can afford him.

The United States' Government is extremely unfortunate in the selection of its scientific _employes_--more especially in the departments of natural history. Perhaps the most liberal appropriation ever made for ethnological purposes--that for collecting a complete account of the North American Indians--has been spent without purpose, the "job" having fallen into the hands of a "placeman," or "old hunker," as the Americans term it--a man neither learned nor intellectual. With the exception of the statistics furnished by Indian agents, the voluminous work of Schoolcraft is absolutely worthless; and students of ethnology cannot contemplate such a misappropriation without feelings of regret.

Fortunately, the American aboriginal had already found a true portrayer and historian. Private enterprise, as is not unfrequently the case, has outstripped Government patronage in the performance of its task. In the unpretending volumes of George Catlin we find the most complete ethnological monograph ever given to the world; but just for that reason, Catlin, not Schoolcraft, should have been chosen for the "job."

Knowing the range of the black bear to be thus grandly extended, our young hunters had a choice of places in which to look for one; but, as there is no place where these animals are more common than in Louisiana itself, they concluded that they could not do better than there choose their hunting-ground. In the great forests, which still cover a large portion of Louisiana, and especially upon the banks of the sluggish _bayous_, where the marshy soil and the huge cypress trees, festooned with Spanish moss, bid defiance to all attempts at cultivation, the black bear still roams at will. There he is found in sufficient numbers to ensure the procuring of a specimen without much difficulty.

The hunters of these parts have various modes of capturing him. The log-trap is a common plan; but the planters enjoy the sport of running him down with dogs; or rather should it be termed running him up; since the chase usually ends by Bruin taking to a tree, and thus unconsciously putting himself within reach of the unerring rifle.

It was by this means that our young hunters determined to try their luck; and they had no difficulty in procuring the necessary adjuncts to ensure success. The great Czar, powerful everywhere, was not without his agent at New Orleans. From him a letter of introduction was obtained to a planter living on one of the interior _bayous_; and our heroes, having repaired thither, were at once set in train for the sport--the planter placing himself, his house, his hounds, and his horses at their disposal.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

THE NORTHERN FORESTS.

On their arrival, the hospitable planter sent to his neighbours, and arranged a grand hunt, to come off at an early day specified in the invitation. Each was to bring with him such hounds as he was possessed of--and in this way a large pack might be got together, so that a wide extent of forest could be driven.

Among the planters of the Southern states this is a very common practice: only a few of them keeping what might be called a regular kennel of hounds, but many of them having five or six couples. In a neighbourhood favourable to the chase, by uniting a number of these little bands together, a pack may be got up large enough for any purpose.

The usual game hunted in the Southern states is the American fallow-deer (_cervus virginia.n.u.s_), which is still found in considerable plenty in the more solitary tracts of forest all over the United States. It is the only species of deer indigenous to Louisiana: since, the n.o.ble stag or "elk," as he is erroneously called (_cervus canadensis_), does not range so far to the south. On the Pacific coast this animal is found in much lower lat.i.tudes than on that of the Atlantic.

Besides the fallow-deer, the fox gives sport to the Louisiana hunter.

This is the grey fox (_vulpes virginia.n.u.s_). The bay lynx also--or wild cat, as it is called (_lynx rufus_)--and now and then, but more rarely, the cougar (_felis concolor_), give the hounds a run before taking to the tree.

Rac.o.o.ns, opossums, and skunks are common enough in the forests of Louisiana; but these are regarded as "vermin," and are not permitted to lead the dogs astray.

With regard to the other animals mentioned, they all rank as n.o.ble game--especially the cougar, called "panther" by the backwoodsman--and the pack may follow whichever is first "scared up."

The grand game, however, is the bear; and the capture of Bruin is not a feat of everyday occurrence. To find his haunts it is necessary to make an excursion into the more unfrequented and inaccessible solitudes of the forest--in places often many miles from a settlement. Not unfrequently, however, the old gentleman wanders abroad from his unknown retreat, and seeks the plantations--where in the night-time he skulks round the edges of the fields, and commits serious depredations on the young maize plants, or the succulent stalks of the sugar-cane, of which he is immoderately fond. Like his brown congener of Europe he has a sweet tooth, and is greatly given to honey. To get at it he climbs the bee-trees, and robs the hive of its stores. In all these respects he is like the brown bear; but otherwise he differs greatly from the latter species, so much indeed, that it is matter of surprise how any naturalist should have been led to regard them as the same.

Not only in colour, but in shape and other respects, are they totally unlike. While the fur of the brown bear is tossed and tufty--having that appearance usually termed _s.h.a.ggy_--that of the American black bear is of uniform length, and all lying, or rather standing, in one direction, presenting a smooth surface corresponding to the contour of his body. In this respect he is far more akin to the bears of the Asiatic islands, than to the _ursus arctos_. In shape, too, he differs essentially from the latter. His body is more slender, his muzzle longer and sharper, and his profile is a curve with its convexity upward. This last characteristic, which is constant, proclaims him indubitably a distinct species from the brown bear of Europe; and he is altogether a smaller and more mild-tempered animal.

As the grand "cha.s.se" had been arranged to come off on the third day after their arrival, our young hunters determined to employ the interval in ranging the neighbouring woods; not with any expectation of finding a bear--as their host did not believe there was any so near--but rather for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the character of the North American _sylva_.

That of South America Alexis had carefully observed and studied in their long journey across that continent. He had noted the grand tropical trees--the palms and _pothos_ plants--the _mimosas_ and _musaceae_--the magnificent forms of the _lombax_ and _bertholletia_--the curious _cecropias_ and fig-trees--the giant _cedrelas_ and the gum-yielding _siphonias_. On the Andes he had observed the agaves, the cycads, and cactaceae--all strange to the eye of a Russian. He was now desirous of making himself familiar with the forests of North America; which, though of a sub-tropical character in Louisiana, contained forms altogether different from those of the Amazonian regions. Here he would meet with the famed magnolia, and its relative the tulip-tree; the catalpa and flowering cornel, the giant cypress and sycamore, the evergreen oak, the water-loving tupelo, and the curious fan-like palmetto. Of these, and many other beautiful trees belonging to the North American _sylva_, Alexis had read--in fact, knew them botanically; but he wished to cultivate a still pleasanter acquaintance with them, by visiting them in their own native home.

For this purpose he and Ivan set out alone, with only a negro for their guide; the planter being engaged, visiting his different friends, and warning them for the grand hunt.

Pouchskin remained behind. He had been left at the house--to do some necessary repairs to the travelling traps both of himself and his young masters, which, after their long South American expedition, needed looking to. At this work had Pouchskin been left, surrounded by a circle of grinning darkies, in whose company the old grenadier would find material to interest and amuse him.

It was only for a stroll that our young hunters had sallied forth, and without any design of entering upon the chase; but they had become so accustomed to carrying their guns everywhere, that these were taken along with them. Some curious bird or quadruped might be started--whose fur or feathers they might fancy to make an examination of. For that reason, both shouldered their guns.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

THE LONE LAGOON.

They were soon beyond the bounds of the plantation, and walking under the dark majestic woods--the darkey guiding them on their way. They had heard of a curious lake or lagoon, that lay about a mile from the plantation. There they would be likely to witness a spectacle characteristic of the swamps of Louisiana; and thither they directed their steps.

Sure enough, on arriving at the borders of the lagoon, a singular scene was presented to their eyes. The whole surface of the lake appeared alive with various forms of birds and reptiles. Hundreds of alligators were seen, lying like dead trees upon the water, their corrugated backs appearing above the surface. Most of them, however, were in motion, swimming to and fro, or darting rapidly from point to point, as if in pursuit of prey. Now and then their huge tails could be seen curling high up in air, and then striking down upon the water, causing a concussion that echoed far through the forest. At intervals a shining object, flung upward by their tails, could be seen for a moment in the air, amidst the showery spray that was raised along with it. It was easy to see that the glittering forms thus projected were fishes, and that it was the pursuit of these that was causing the commotion among the huge reptiles. Aquatic birds, of a great number of kinds, were equally busy in the pursuit of the fish. Huge pelicans stood up to their tibia in the water--now and then immersing their long mandibles and tossing their finny victims high into the air. Cranes and herons too were there--among others the tall Louisiana crane--conspicuous among the smaller species--snow-white egrets, the wood ibis, and others of white and roseate hue--the snake-darter, with long pointed beak and crouching serpent-like neck--the qua-bird, of lugubrious note and melancholy aspect--and, fairest of all, the scarlet flamingo.

Other birds besides those of aquatic habits took part in the odd spectacle. Hovering in the air were black vultures--the carrion crow and the turkey-buzzard--and upon the tops of tall dead trees could be seen the king of the feathered mult.i.tude, the great white-headed eagle.

His congener, the osprey, soared craftily above--at intervals swooping down, and striking his talons into the fish, which the alligators had tossed into the air--thus robbing the reptiles of their prey, to be robbed in turn by his watchful cousin-german upon the tree. The spectacle was far from being a silent one: on the contrary, the confused chorus of sounds was deafening to the ears of the spectators. The hoa.r.s.e bellowing of the alligators--the concussions made by their great tails striking the water--the croaking of the pelicans, and the clattering of their huge mandibles--the doleful screaming of the herons, cranes, and qua-birds--the shrieks of the osprey--and the shrill maniac laughter of the white-headed eagle, piercing through all other sounds-- formed a medley of voices as unearthly as inharmonious.

A shot from the gun of Ivan, that brought down a splendid specimen of the white-headed eagle--together with the appearance of the hunters by the edge of the water--put a sudden termination to this grand drama of the wilderness. The birds flew up into the air, and went soaring off in different directions over the tops of the tall trees; while the huge reptiles, that had been taught by the alligator hunters to fear the presence of man, desisted for a while from their predatory prey, and retreated to the reeds upon the opposite sh.o.r.e.

The spectacle was one well worthy of being seen, and one that cannot be witnessed every day--even in the swamps of Louisiana. Its occurrence at that time was accounted for by the drying up of the lake, which left the fish at the mercy of their numerous enemies.

Having taken up the eagle which Ivan had shot, the young hunters continued their excursion along the edge of the lagoon.

They had not gone far when they came upon a bank of mud, that had formerly been covered with water. So recently had the water dried from it, that, in spite of the hot sun shining down upon it, the mud was still soft. They had not gone many steps further, when they perceived upon its surface, what at first they supposed to be the tracks of a man.

On getting a little closer, however, they doubted this; and, now recollecting the resemblance which they had noticed in the snows of Lapland--between the footsteps of a human being and those of a bear--it occurred to them that these might also be bear-tracks--though they knew that the tracks of the American bear would be slightly different from those of his European cousin.