Old Ephraim. 319 



straight up one hill-side as we ran straight down the other 

 behind them. JBy this time I was pretty nearly done out, 

 for running along the steep ground through the sage-brush 

 was most exhausting work ; and Merrifield kept gaining 

 on me and was well in front. Just as he disappeared over 

 a bank, almost at the bottom of the valley, I tripped over 

 a bush and fell full-length. When I got up I knew I 

 could never make up the ground I had lost, and besides, 

 could hardly run any longer ; Merrifield was out of sight 

 below, and the bears were laboring up the steep hill-side 

 directly opposite and about three hundred yards off, so I 

 sat down and began to shoot over Merrifield's head, aiming 

 at the big bear. She was going very steadily and in a 

 straight line, and each bullet sent up a puff of dust where 

 it struck the dry soil, so that I could keep correcting my 

 aim ; and the fourth ball crashed into the old bear's flank. 

 She lurched heavily forward, but recovered herself and 

 reached the timber, while Merrifield, who had put on a 

 spurt, was not far behind. 



I toiled up the hill at a sort of trot, fairly gasping 

 and sobbing for breath ; but before I got to the top I 

 heard a couple of shots and a shout. The old bear had 

 turned as soon as she was in the timber, and came towards 

 Merrifield, but he gave her the death wound by firing into 

 her chest, and then shot at the young one, knocking it 

 over. When I came up he was just walking towards the 

 latter to finish it with the revolver, but it suddenly jumped 

 up as lively as ever and made off at a great pace for it 

 was nearly full-grown. It was impossible to fire where 

 the tree trunks were so thick, but there was a small open- 



