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 “baw!” 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 discouraged at failing to bag 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 17, I was on hand 
15 225 
