20 The Grizzly Bear 



as he turned, the bear ran open-mouthed and at full speed 

 upon him. Captain Lewis ran about eighty yards, but 

 finding that the animal gained on him fast, it flashed on his 

 mind that, by getting into the water to such a depth that 

 the bear would be obliged to attack him swimming, there 

 was still some chance of his life; he therefore turned short, 

 plunged into the river about waist deep, and facing about, 

 presented the point of his espontoon. The bear arrived 

 at the water's edge within twenty feet of him; but as 

 soon as he put himself in this posture of defence, the bear 

 seemed frightened, and wheeling about, retreated with as 

 much precipitation as he had pursued. Very glad to be 

 released from this danger. Captain Lewis returned to the 

 shore, and observed him run with great speed, sometimes 

 looking back as if he expected to be pursued, till he 

 reached the woods. He could not conceive the cause of 

 the sudden alarm of the bear, but congratulated himself 

 on his escape when he saw his own track torn to pieces 

 by the furious animal, and learned from the whole 

 adventure never to suffer his rifle to be a moment un- 

 loaded." 



June 20, 1805. "One of the men, who was sent a short 

 distance from the camp to bring home some meat, was 

 attacked by a white bear, closely pursued within forty 

 paces of the camp, and narrowly escaped being caught. 

 Captain Clark immediately went with three men in quest of 

 the bear, which he was afraid might surprise another of 

 the hunters who was out collecting the game. The bear 

 was, however, too quick, for before Captain Clark could 

 reach the man, the bear had attacked him and compelled 

 him to take refuge in the water. He now ran off as they 



