TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 2IQ 



I crept up as close as I could without disturbing them, 

 and had selected a fat calf for my victim, when a full-grown 

 bull came tearing out of the bushes and ran toward the herd. 

 I did not know how to account for this strange freak, and I 

 saw him looking in the direction from which he came, shak- 

 ing his ponderous head in an angry manner. Only a short 

 time was given me to wonder what would happen next, when 

 a full-sized grizzly bounded out after the bull and rushed 

 toward the herd. 



The cows began to form a circle, while the calves were 

 rushing wildly around. The latter were quickly surrounded 

 by the cows, thus keeping the little fellows on the inside, as 

 is the custom of the buffaloes when danger threatens. The 

 bull took up his position in the rear, with a manner which in- 

 dicated his determination to protect the females and their 

 young, with his life if necessary. It was soon evident that 

 some of the herd would become a meal for his bearship, un- 

 less they acted immediately in their own defense. 



The bull saw just how matters stood, and, when the bear 

 was almost at his heels, turned swiftly and met bruin as a 

 mountain ram meets his antagonist. They came together 

 with a thud, which fairly stunned them both, and they re- 

 bounded from the concussion like balls, and paused for an in- 

 stant to recover from the shock. The bear then made a fresh 

 start for the herd, but was again confronted by the bull. 



The bear seemed to understand fully the motives which 

 actuated his opponent, so he raised upon his haunches, and 

 prepared to do battle with the bull, before he made another 

 attempt to secure a fresh young calf. At that moment the 

 bull lowered his head, shot forward with his tail standing 

 straight in the air, and struck the bear full in the stomach. 

 The bear in turn caught him around the neck and proceeded 

 to tear the flesh from his shoulders, while the bull gave the 



