Nights with the Grizzlies 



torn of the gulch. Walking slowly away, he 

 commenced ascending diagonally the op- 

 posite and steep side of the gorge. The old 

 rascal during the heat of the day had dug 

 a resting-place in the cool bed of the branch, 

 was taking his siesta, and evidently resented 

 being disturbed. From the sullen way in 

 which he made off, occasionally looking back, 

 I felt he was going to be ugly. Quicker 

 than it takes to write it, I had two car- 

 tridges in my right hand, which, with the 

 one in the rifle, were thought sufficient, for at 

 that time the size of the beast was not re- 

 alized. The cartridge in the rifle was a no- 

 27o-grain express, and those in the hand no- 

 27o-grain and no-34O-grain respectively, all 

 express-balls. 



While making these preparations, the bear, 

 going diagonally up the side of the gulch, 

 had disappeared behind a huge conglomerate 

 boulder that overhung the stream. Seeing 

 he must soon emerge, I dropped on my right 

 knee and stood ready to fire at the first favor- 

 able opportunity. In a moment he emerged 

 from behind the boulder, walked up a short 

 distance, stopped and looked back, exposing 



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