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Show 78 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. venison had been prepared, and we discussed its merits with an appetite sharpened by a twenty-four hours fast. At the very base of the Rocky Mountains, while we were approaching the Sand-hill Pass, fresh bear track were discovered by our Delawares, who determined to follow in search of the animal. Diverging a little from our line among the trees on the side of the mountain, our bruin was first seen. "A bear hunt! a bear hunt!" was quickly re-echoed by the whole company. The baggage animals were left to themselves while Colonel Fremont and the whole party darted off at full speed to the chase. Two of our Delawares who first spied him, were half* a mile in advance, for they gave the reins to their animals the instant they saw the bear. His bearship seeing strangers approaching at full speed, and being unused to their ways, thought it most prudent to make himself scarce ; he turned and slowly descended the hill in an opposite direction ; our loud huzzas finally alarmed him and off he went in full tilt, the whole party surrounding him; the first shot from the Delaware brought him to his knees. Three shots killed him. He was an enormous black bear, and veiy fat; 1 partook of but small quantities of it, it being too luscious and greasy for my palate. The meat was brought into camp and served several days for food for the whole party. The next day I accompanied Col. Fremont into the Roubidoux Pass, from the summit of which I had the first view into the San Louis Valley, the head waters of the " Rio Grande del IStorte." On the opposite side forty miles across are the " San Juan Mountains," the scene |