American Big-Game Hunting 



between 10,000 and 11,000 feet elevation. 

 A reconnaissance indicated that the only- 

 chance to approach him to windward was- 

 hy crossing the mountain to the right into 

 the valley of another fork of Four Bear 

 Creek. Accordingly, we climbed over the 

 mountain divide and were making along its 

 opposite slope, when just in our front about 

 a mile off, near the head of the gulch on 

 the right, was discovered another grizzly- 

 rooting. It was agreed that I was to have 

 the shot, and it became necessary to leave 

 my horse and dogs back with the men. I 

 took it afoot. A little study of the ground 

 showed that in order to approach him suc- 

 cessfully, it was necessary to descend to the 

 bottom of the gorge on the right, and to 

 ascend along its bed. This I proceeded to 

 do. Just before reaching the bed of the 

 gorge I was exposed to view, and was walk- 

 ing fast or running to get the advantage 

 of its friendly cover. When within about 

 fifty yards of the bottom, and with my at- 

 tention directed to the bear about half a mile 

 away, a large grizzly forced himself on my 

 attention by rising from his bed in the bot- 

 216 



