TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. l8l 



banks at this point were solid, perpendicular rocks, sixty 

 feet high. The water was rushing through this slide with 

 the rapidity of an arrow. Farther on it disappeared in the 

 recesses of the rocks, where it was lost for a short distance, 

 but it raised again, after the rocks were passed, and flowed 

 gently upward. It was a curious freak of nature, and I 

 gazed upon it until the descending sun warned me to retrace 

 my steps. 



I had gone but a short distance when a skunk stepped 

 boldly into my path, and, forgetting his manners, refused 

 to give the road. This made me angry and the battle com- 

 menced. Small stones went whizzing through the air, and 

 my opponent was getting the worst of the battle, when a 

 large grizzly bear appeared upon the scene. She came out of 

 a patch of bushes just beyond the skunk, and stood upon 

 her haunches, looking me over with an air that seemed to 

 forbid further hostilities. There was no tree near, but a 

 high rock offered shelter in case I should need it. I thought 

 I could easily break her neck, but she did not change her 

 position, so I sent a ball at her just as she started to get 

 down on all fours. The ball struck her in the back of the 

 neck, making only a flesh wound. She roared as only a 

 grizzly can roar and make a lunge at me. I ran for the rock, 

 but found that I could not climb it. I then rushed around 

 it and toward the creek, hoping to escape that way. The 

 dodge gave me time to throw in another cartridge, and, 

 as the bear came around the rock, I gave her another ball in 

 in the breast. A roar loud and long rent the air, and, be- 

 fore I had time to turn, she was almost upon me. I then 

 ran for dear life, imagining all the time that I could feel 

 her sharp claws and teeth tearing my flesh. She was a 

 knowing brute, and, instead of following in the rear as she 

 rounded the rock, she headed off my retreat. 



