THREE TIATtDY MOUNTAINEERS 249 



it Avas doubly eas}^ to mistake tlieni for stones. The 

 peak where they stood was like an island. The wind 

 was blowing in our faces, and Joe signalled me to take 

 the left route while he turned to the right, thus lessen- 

 ing the chance of the sheep's escape, at least doiv)i the 

 mountain. Already I tasted the rich roast mutton 

 with which I had promised to feast the boys of our 

 camp, who had grown tired of salt meat and venison. 



" I dro})ped on my hands and knees and began to 

 crawl in a very poor imitation of Joe, for it seemed to 

 me that every stone I touched was either sharp as a 

 knife, or took particular pleasure in rolling down hill. 

 After a quarter of a mile of this sort of work, the ledge 

 around which I was passing was high enougli to shield 

 me if I walked upright, and this allowed me to rest my 

 strained knees and elbows. 



" As I paused a moment to look about, a few bones 

 caught my eye ; the meat was picked from them, but 

 the gristle was quite fresh. ' Ah, lia,' thought I, ' a Bear 

 must have been enjoying some spring lamb ! ' I thought 

 Bear, and instantly I saiv a Bear ! Lurching down the 

 steep and stopping directly in my path was a full-sized 

 Grizzly, who was evidently as surprised as I, but not 

 so frightened. The Bear rose on its hind legs, waving 

 its paws, and looked at me slantwise. I returned the 

 stare glance for glance, not knowing what else to do, 

 half expecting the beast to run, as most fourfoots will, 

 and feeling backward at the same time for a footing 

 that w^ould give me range enough to use my rifle. 



''As I took a step backward the Bear stepped forward 

 growling. I had made a mistake ; a female Grizzly 

 with two or three hungry cubs in her den does not run 



