276 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



While Mack was wallowing in the brush, John over- 

 took him, and together they raced through the timber, 

 and out upon the slide beyond, to the spot where the bear 

 had fallen. Alas! their quarry had disappeared! But 

 the hunters knew from the blood-stained trail, and a wide 

 swath of broken weeds, that the grizzly was dragging its 

 hind-quarters, and could not be far away. They tried to 

 send Kaiser after it, but he flatly declined to go alone. 

 Norboe then followed the trail down the timbered point 

 toward the creek, while Phillips scouted lower down on 

 the brush-covered slide in order to head off the bear from 

 the heavy green timber beyond. 



They had gone but a short distance when Mack, reach- 

 ing an elevated point at the end of the timber, and look- 

 ing across the slide down to the bank of the creek, 

 caught glimpses of the bear a hundred and fifty yards 

 away, in some willow bushes. His companion was in a 

 low spot, half way between himself and the bear. Imme- 

 diately he began firing, over Mr. Phillips's head, and 

 emptied his .33-Winchester of the eight shots it contained. 

 John, floundering on the slide below, could see nothing 

 on account of the high willows, and during the fusillade 

 kept yelling, in desperation, " Hold on. Mack! Wait 

 till I get there! Don't kill him! I want to photograph 

 him!" 



The only thing in the West that can excite Mack 

 Norboe beyond control is an unfinished grizzly bear; 

 and so he kept on firing. 



When they finally reached the bear, they found it 

 dead. Then its sex changed ; for it proved to be a female. 



