HISTORY OP CALIFORNIA. 83 



" Ahont half way from the rancher ia a loud bray- 

 ing, followed by a fierce growl, attracted our attention, 

 and in a few moments a frightened mule, closely pur- 

 sued by an enormous grizzly bear, descended the 

 hill-side within forty yards of where we stood leaning 

 on our rifles. As the bear reached the road, Higgins-, 

 with his usual quickness and intrepidity, fired, and an 

 unearthly yell from the now infuriated animal told 

 with what effect. The mule in the interval had crossed 

 the road, and was now scampering away over the 

 plains, and Bruin, finding himself robbed of his prey, 

 turned upon us. I levelled my rifle and gave him the 

 contents with hearty good will, but the wounds he had 

 received only served to exasperate the monster, who 

 now made towards us with rapid strides. Deeming 

 prudence the better part of valor, we ran with all con- 

 venient speed in the direction of the camp, within a 

 hundred yards of which my foot became entangled in 

 the underbrush, and I fell headlong upon the earth. 

 In another instant I should have fallen a victim to 

 old Bruin's rage, but a well-directed ball from my 

 companion's rifle entered his brain and arrested his 

 career. The whole party now came to our assistance 

 and soon despatched Mr. Grizzly. Dragging him to 

 camp, we made a hearty supper from his fat ribs, and, 

 as I had probably been the more frightened of the 

 two, I claimed as an indemnity his skin, which pro- 

 tected me afterward from the damp ground many a 

 cold night. He was a monstrous fellow, measuring 

 nearly four feet in height, and six in length, and a 

 stroke from his huge paw would, had he caught us, 

 have entirely dissipated the golden dreams of Higgins 

 and myself." 



The same writer gives quite a graphic description 



