60 SPORTING AD VENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



enough to enable one to note objects distinctly, and when 

 that time came I saw the horses huddled together on a 

 sort of cape that jutted a considerable way out into the 

 stream. On approaching them, I saw that they were trem- 

 bling with fright, and, on looking for the cause of it, I be- 

 held a large object crouching on the ground about sixty 

 yards away, and, on gazing at it intently for a short time, 

 I concluded that it was either a bear or a cougar, and that 

 it was feasting on something. Taking deliberate aim at it, 

 I fired, and, when the report died away, I could hear the 

 gruff " huff, huff," of a grizzly ; but ere I could load the 

 second time it had disappeared behind a mass of crags. 



The shot had alarmed the camp and brought the armed 

 warriors rushing toward me, and, in response to their in- 

 quiries, I told them in one word what was up. Calling the 

 dogs, we followed the bear, and were soon on its tracks, 

 passing on our way a partially eaten mustang. The route 

 led us up the precipice and into a piece of woods, and 

 there the trail was lost by both dogs and men. Being re- 

 solved to have the animal if possible, the men deployed, 

 and were soon carefully examining every fallen leaf and 

 blade of grass in search of Bruin's footsteps. While en- 

 gaged in this business, I was startled suddenly by the 

 abrupt yelling of a pack of curs directly behind rne, and, 

 on bounding round to see what it meant, was thunder- 

 struck to see a huge male grizzly bearing down on me, 

 while the dogs yelped and barked around him, yet took 

 excellent care not to go too near him. I had just time 

 enough to jump behind a young fir when he went tearing 

 past me through the undergrowth, but before he had pro- 

 ceeded ten paces I gave him the contents of my breech- 

 loader, a large army rifle. I must have struck him badly, 

 for he turned round and charged me viciously ; and as no 

 other means of escape then presented itself to my mind, 

 I scrambled up the tree near which I stood with all the 

 speed that the fear of a horrible death could impart to 

 limbs that were neither old nor weak. 



I had not reached a perch before my foe was at the base 



