TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 187 



I followed, as fast as fallen trees and other obstructions 

 would permit, for about two miles, when, covered with blood 

 and foam, he started up from behind a fallen tree. Again 

 the report of my rifle rang through the air, and the animal 

 reeled, fell, and lay prostrate upon the ground, the blood 

 flowing in a stream from his neck. It was no small job to 

 cut him up,, but I finally succeeded in securing his hams, and 

 was starting for the ponies, when a terrible roar caused me 

 to look in the direction whence it came. 



I saw a large grizzly coming, as fast as it could, to help 

 me dispose of my game, and probably to dispose of me, 

 should I deny its right to a share of the elk. Two cubs 

 brought up the rear, eagerly following the trail of blood, 

 their savage appetites fully aroused. My first impulse was 

 to climb a tree, but the idea of relinquishing my game to 

 these blood-thirsty animals was not to be considered, so I 

 fired at the foremost cub, and had the satisfaction of seeing 

 it drop dead. The mother paused a moment to bewail the 

 loss of her offspring, only to see the other stretched lifeless 

 beside the first. 



I now directed a shot at her ear, but missed the mark 

 and slightly fractured her lower jaw. She immediately 

 deserted her dead cubs and rushed at me like a tornado, 

 uttering fierce growls. Another shot, intended for the head, 

 struck her in the neck, and with a deafening roar she leaped 

 toward me. I attempted to fire again, but she was too quick 

 for me and knocked the rifle from my hands. At the same 

 instant I jumped behind a small tree and swung myself up 

 among its branches. 



Vain were her attempts to dislodge me. Her wounds 

 distracted her attention, and, at last, faint from loss of blood, 

 she lay down. I threw stick after stick at her, hoping to 

 drive her to a location more pleasing to myself, but she only 



