Nights with the Grizzlies 



gotten within 150 yards, when a dark object 

 that to my startled imagination appeared ten 

 feet high, and proportionately broad, appeared 

 to rise out of the earth. Recognizing the 

 situation at once, I rose up offhand and 

 pulled, but the firing-pin failed. This had 

 never before happened under such circum- 

 stances, and only half a dozen times in the 

 rifle's history, for want of attention to the 

 firing-bolt. The bear gave me time to cock 

 and fire, but as no answering "bawl" came, 

 the shot was evidently a miss, resulting from 

 my being "put out" by the previous mishap. 

 He was rapidly followed to the edge of the 

 willow swamp (about 150 yards), through 

 which the trail passed, where he was seen, 

 evidently unwilling to forego his evening 

 meal. He quickly sat up, made me out, and 

 at once disappeared before a shot could be 

 delivered. I gave him up for the time, very 

 much discouraored at failinsf to bao^ such 

 a large grizzly. He was evidently a boar, 

 and certainly was not much scared, and from 

 his size and actions I was satisfied he was the 

 one that had stolen my neighbor's yearlings. 

 The next evening, August 1 7, I was on hand 

 15 225 



