196 STORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



before they attempt to send them scampering away by a 

 mere threat or a vigorous charge. Even a hungry griz- 

 zly has learned how dangerous it is, and has given its life 

 as a forfeit for its ignorance and presumption. I heard 

 an old hunter in Dakota relate how a male grizzly once at- 

 tacked a herd in his presence. The huge bear commenced 

 operations by boldly advancing toward a small herd of 

 cows which was protected only by five or six bulls, the re- 

 mainder of the stern sex being assembled in bachelor par- 

 ties by themselves in other portions of the plain. As ho 

 approached the herd, the males closed up together, to make 

 a protecting screen for those under their charge, and low- 

 ered their sharp-pointed horns almost to the ground. The 

 grizzly halted to gaze at the reception prepared for him, 

 and, after sniffing the air and gazing for a few moments, he 

 concluded that he had little to fear, and advanced boldly to 

 the assault. Before he reached the herd the most daring 

 of the bulls charged him fearlessly; but ere he could reach 

 him with his horns the bear struck him a powerful blow 

 along the back with his huge paws, and killed him immedi- 

 ately by breaking the spinal column. Nothing daunted at 

 the fate of their companion, the others charged vigorously, 

 but two of them were overpowered in less than three min- 

 utes. The survivors plied their horns to such good ad- 

 vantage, however, that their powerful assailant was glad to 

 crawl away with broken ribs and protruding viscera, only 

 to fall a victim to the hunter. 



The same man told me that ho saw a pack of wolves 

 chasing a young calf, apparently about two months old, on 

 one occasion, and that the poor creature was so weak from 

 loss of blood and hard running that it must soon have fall- 

 en a prey to its merciless pursuers had its life not been 

 saved by a splendid bull, which charged down so suddenly 

 upon the hungry throng that he hurled one of them into 

 the air with a vehemence that killed it when it returned to 

 earth, and caused the remainder to scamper away with the 

 utmost celerity, as if they were panic-stricken. He then 

 escorted his young charge away, and, although the prowl- 



