ADVENTURE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 421 



On a June day, a hunter named Martin Warner, was riding 

 up the rugged pass upon the western slope of the Rocky 

 Mountains. The day was very warm, and both hunter and 

 mule where tired and thirsty. Coming to a small spring, 

 which had a very cool, refreshing look, Warner dismounted, 

 blessing his good fortune, leaned his rifle against a rock, re- 

 moved the pack from his mule, and permitted the poor beast 

 to wander some distance below to drink from the stream 

 formed by the water from the spring, and then crept into a 

 shady place to make a comfortable meal of jerked beef and 

 water. Much refreshed by the repast, and desirous of still 

 further recruiting himself he pulled off his boots and began to 

 wash his feet. While engaged in this cooling performance, 

 his quick ear caught the sound of a low, deep growl, which 

 caused him to spring to his feet and seize his rifle, with the 

 instinctive preparation of a hunter. Amid a clump of bushes, 

 about a hundred yards up the pass, he saw the large, dark 

 head, and glaring eyes x)f the grizzly lord of the mountain. 

 As quick as lightning the long rifle was brought to the hun- 

 ter's eye a flash and a report, and with a tremendous growl, 

 the wounded animal came rushing down the pass. Martin 

 had not time to reload, and to run would have been utterly 

 vain. The hunter clubbed his rifle, and planting his back 

 against a rock awaited the onset. The bear came on confi- 

 dently. Martin struck him a tremendous blow over the eye, 

 and then as the rifle flew in pieces, dodged away from the 

 blinded animal. It would have been easy now for the hunter 

 to escape upon the back of his mule. But he desired the 

 bear's meat and skin, and was willing to take his chance of 

 life in the struggle for them. He ran a short distance down 

 the pass, followed by the groping bear. Suddenly, the en- 

 raged beast paused upon a rock, uncertain which course to 

 pursue, and beginning to droop from loss of blood. Martin 

 drew his long hunting-knife and advanced cautiously towards 

 him. Although blind, the bear was still very formidable, 



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