250 Sport and Life. 



space, and, as the base line of the Kootenay District triangle, 

 where it rests on United States territory, is some 140 miles 

 long, and the country of the most rugged character, the chance of 

 selecting the spot where Sprowle would cross was one in a million. 

 But Providence evidently considered that Sprowle's dossier 

 was about full, for he literally walked up to the muzzle of the 

 constable's Winchester. It appears that the only, precaution 

 Sprowle had failed to take was to provide himself with sufficient 

 food in his flight. After abandoning his canoe and taking to the 

 woods, he hid on the British side for four days. Want of grub 

 compelled him, however, to proceed Idaho-wards, for he was afraid 

 of using his rifle to kill game. Anderson and his Indians had 

 practically given up all hope of capturing Sprowle, and were also 

 beginning to suffer from the lack of provisions. A black bear 

 being seen close to camp, one of the Sywashes, more hungry than 

 the rest, without asking Anderson's permission, which would, of 

 course, have been refused, fired at the walking fleshpot. The shot 

 was heard by the now half-starved Sprowle, who, thinking that it 

 was fired by an Indian or by a prospector out hunting, made 

 straight for the spot from whence the sound came in the hope of 

 obtaining food, for, as he quite reasonably argued, no party of 

 watchers would have betrayed their whereabouts by shooting. 

 Anderson, in the meanwhile, after soundly scolding the Indian who 

 had killed the bear, was lying under some bushes waiting for a bit 

 of bear's meat, when he suddenly heard something make its way 

 through the thick brush at his side. Taking up his rifle, but never 

 dreaming it could be Sprowle, he kept on the alert. To his intense 

 surprise Sprowle, ragged and with drawn face, stepped out into the 

 little clearing, and, seeing only the Indians at their fire, was in the 

 act of stepping up to them when Anderson's order to throw down 

 the Winchester he held in his hand struck his ear. For the first 

 moment he seemed to collapse, but, recovering himself with 

 amazing rapidity, he appeared for an instant to hesitate whether to 

 obey the order or fight for his life, but the levelled rifle and 

 Anderson's stern command to instantly do his bidding or be shot 



