CHAPTER XVI 



MORE CAMP-FIRE YARNS 



The Charge of the Duchess — The Death of the Duke of WeHington — 

 The Horror of the Rocks — The Sheep that Couldn't be Caught — 

 The Matches that Wouldn't Light. 



On several occasions I had heard mention of a nar- 

 row escape that Mr. Phillips enjoyed from the claws of 

 a wounded grizzly bear; and in the leisure hours of that 

 rainy day in camp, it occurred to me to draw out all the 

 facts regarding the affair. So I said: 



*' John, it seems to me that in spite of all the bear- 

 killing that has been done in these mountains, there have 

 been no real bear scrapes, such as some men are always 

 stirring up." 



" He has always shot so well there hain't been any 

 room for argument," said Mack, with emphasis, " at 

 least not more than that one time with the Duchess." 



" Did the Duchess charge, regularly? " 



" She surely did," said Mr. Phillips, quietly, " and I 

 was properly scared, too." 



" How did it happen that she got a chance at you? " 



" It was all on account of Charlie's dog, the great 

 and only Kaiser." 



" Aw, shucksl " broke in Charlie, warmly. " It was 



