The Indians have a name for him.

_Kuyas Wapusk_ they call him--the bear so old he is about to die.

They let him go unharmed; other bears tolerate him and let him eat their meat if he chances along; the white man kills him.
This old bear was famished.

His claws were gone; his hair was thin, and in some places his skin was naked, and he had barely more than red, hard gums to chew with.

If he lived until autumn he would den up--for the last time.
Perhaps death would come even sooner than that.