above the surface of the water. Between these rocks and the shore was
quite a current of water that ran over a gravelly bed.

On the mainland opposite this flat ridge of granite rocks were to be
seen a large number of fish, each ranging in weight from eight to ten
pounds. What most excited and pleased the Indians was that while the
numerous tracks indicated that several bears had been there fishing only
the night before, yet each fish had only had one piece bitten out of it,
and that was on the back just a little behind the head. Bears are very
dainty when they have abundance to choose from, and so, when fish are
very plentiful, especially the whitefish, they are content with only
biting out that portion containing some dainty fat, which is, as we have
said, on the swell of the back just behind the head.

When this discovery was made the men in the other canoes were notified,
and quietly and quickly, plans were made to not only see the bears at
work that night, when they would return, but to have some shots at them;
for the Indians said:

"Bears not such fools as to leave such a place while food so plenty."

The impression among those who knew their habits was that even now the
bears were sleeping not very far away in the dense forests. So the
place was carefully looked over, and the best spots for observation were
selected. An important consideration was to form some idea, as to the
direction, from which the bears would come, if they returned that night
to this spot. Indian cleverness, sharpened by experience in such
matters, enabled them to solve this very important question by studying
the trail along which they had been cautiously coming and going very
recently. This they found to be almost a straight line running directly
back into the depths of the dense forest.

To climb trees as points of observation from which to view bears is, as
a general thing, a dangerous experiment, as bears themselves are such
capital climbers. But there are times when it is the only possible
course available for those who would observe their action, on account of
the flatness of the country thereabout. So, speedily as possible, the
trees were selected that were considered most suitable. These were
situated a little north and south of the spot where the bears had thrown
their fish on the shore. They were a little distant from the trail
along which it was likely the bears would come. Three trees were thus
selected, and it