Nights with the Grizzhes 



know I have not yet gotten the right one, 

 the ••calf-killer." 



Rush skins and attends to the hide the 

 next morning, and before sundown I am 

 again on hand. The old horse is fast disap- 

 pearing, and it is desirable to lose no time. 

 Position is taken this time a little nearer the 

 trail. In coming out from the willow-brush 

 it passes for twenty or thirty yards through a 

 marsh that is screened, to some extent, by 

 scattering willows on the near side; and my 

 position enables me to see, through these 

 willows, a portion of the trail over which the 

 bear will probably come. Late in the after- 

 noon a storm had passed around the moun- 

 tain, and a strong and favorable wind was 

 blowing. Lying prone among the sage- 

 brush, in a position favorable for observation, 

 with everything at a ready, I wait patiently. 

 Sundown comes; the mountain to the west 

 casts its shadows around. It becomes quite 

 dusky: so much so that I experiment as to 

 whether the fore sight can be seen, otherwise 

 a wad of white paper must be tied over the 

 front sight. This is as yet unnecessary. It is 

 now the witching time when this bear likes 

 15* 229 



