THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 61 



of the tree, but I was beyond the reach of his jaws; and 

 this gave me such a feeling of safety that I turned my 

 head round to gaze at his position. I could see his huge 

 jaws agape, and hear his hot breath come out in gasps, as 

 if he were severely wounded ; and on noticing these inci- 

 dents I scrambled on a strong bough, and seated myself on 

 it with a feeling of pleasure one can only know who has 

 been in the same position. On looking down once more, I 

 saw the dogs worrying my besieger; but he seemed to 

 take little notice of them, and to devote all his attention 

 to my situation. In a few moments more he was in full 

 retreat, however, for on every side of him were howling 

 Indians who were plying bow or rifle as rapidly as possi- 

 ble. The raising of the siege induced me to descend at 

 once, and, picking up my rifle, which was uninjured, I load- 

 ed it, and joined in the chase with five others. Not finding 

 any opportunity to fire to good advantage, I reserved my 

 fire; and fortunate did this prove for a heedless brave in 

 a short time, for while the grizzly was rushing through a 

 dense piece of shrubbery, this young warrior placed him- 

 self directly in front of him at less than thirty paces, and 

 fired straight into his face; but he must have missed his 

 aim, for the bear charged him with open mouth, and, be- 

 fore he could escape by running, overtook him, knocked 

 the rifle out of his hand, and, seizing him by the shoulder, 

 bore him to the ground face downward. The brave drew 

 his knife promptly, and, turning partially round, began to 

 use it on the neck and chest of his huge captor; but he 

 was evidently getting the worst of it, for the bear was 

 using teeth and claws with a vigor that must soon have 

 finished him had not aid arrived. 



While both were struggling fiercely in this contest of 

 life and death, the chief and myself appeared on the scene 

 from opposite quarters, and, rushing toward the foe, I de- 

 livered my fire at his heart at a distance of a few paces ; 

 and before he could relinquish his hold to face us, the 

 chief gave him the contents of a revolver in rapid succes- 

 sion in the head, and he fell over dead, after giving one or 



