HUNTING THE GRISLY. 107 



the bank on which they stood and strode into 

 the thicket, holding his rifle at the port. 

 Hardly had he taken three steps when the 

 bear rose in front of him, roaring with rage 

 and pain. It was so close that the man had 

 no chance to fire. Its fore-arms hung useless 

 and as it reared unsteadily on its hind-legs, 

 lunging forward at him, he seized it by the 

 ears and strove to hold it back. His strength 

 was very great, and he actually kept the huge 

 head from his face and braced himself so that 

 he was not overthrown ; but the bear twisted 

 its muzzle from side to side, biting and tear- 

 ing the man's arms and shoulders. Another 

 soldier jumping down slew the beast with a 

 single bullet, and rescued his comrade ; but 

 though alive he was too badly hurt to recover 

 and died after reaching the hospital. Buffalo 

 Bill was given the bear-skin, and I believe has 

 it now. 



The instances in which hunters who have 

 rashly followed grislies into thick cover have 

 been killed or severely mauled might be multi- 

 plied indefinitely. I have myself known of 

 eight cases in which men have met their deaths 

 in this manner. 



It occasionally happens that a cunning old 

 grisly will lie so close that the hunter almost 

 steps on him ; and he then rises suddenly with 

 a loud, coughing growl and strikes down or 

 seizes the man before the latter can fire off 

 his rifle. More rarely a bear which is both 

 vicious and crafty deliberately permits the 

 hunter to approach fairly near to, or perhaps 



