THE GRIZZLY BEAM. 43 



matter, as it will not hesitate a moment to attack anything 

 living, from a man to a mouse ; and the one is of about as 

 much consequence to it as the other, for it can crush the 

 former at once with a blow from its powerful paw or the 

 pressure of its massive jaws. It will, in ordinary cases, 

 avoid an encounter with man, unless startled suddenly or 

 cornered ; but when it is hungry, angry, or suffering from 

 petulance during the rutting season, it seems to lose its 

 fear of everything, and to be ready to fight without the 

 least provocation. When surprised, it rises with a deep, 

 gruff, bass-drum-like "huff, huff," that recalls the giants 

 of the fairy tales; and when it commences an attack it 

 charges vigorously. Notwithstanding its clumsy form, it 

 can run rapidly, owing to its enormous strength, and woe 

 betide the man who cannot then find a tree convenient, for 

 that is his only refuge, if he is alone, as the grizzly cannot 

 climb, owing, according to the assertions of the Indians, 

 to the form of its claws. It can climb trees when young, 

 however; so its great weight may have something to do 

 with its inability to accomplish such a feat at adult age. 

 Should a man seek safety even in a tree, he is liable to be 

 made a prisoner for several hours, for the bear will not, it 

 is said by hunters, leave until night sets in or it becomes 

 hungry. 



Should a person meet it suddenly when he is alone, he 

 should not run unless he could do so with some assurance 

 of success, for it is almost sure to pursue if it is at all with- 

 in convenient distance. The best thing in that case would 

 be to try the effect of a few screams, for, great and pow- 

 erful as the grizzly is, it is very much afraid of the human 

 voice, and often flees from it. It has been known to turn 

 tail and run, even when preparing to attack, on hearing 

 the terrified screams of a man ; and I heard of a woman 

 in Siskiyou County, California, who caused a female grizzly 

 and her two cubs to beat a rapid retreat by shouting lusti- 

 ly at them when the former began to show signs of being 

 dangerous. An unusual noise of any kind is liable to 

 alarm it, if it is not hungry ; but such means of driving it 



