144 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



his foot, at the same moment obtaining the first view of me. 

 Not a muscle of the bear's body moved, while the small 

 pig-like eyes momentarily increased in the glow of tbeir 

 intensity. In that gaze there was no mistake ; it clearly 

 said, " I will brook no intruder in my demesne, and the 

 life of him who is guilty of it shall pay the penalty." 



It was a fool-hardy or precipitous course to pursue. I 

 would not do it now, no, nor even then, if starvation had 

 not stared me in the face. I raised my gun and took 

 sight, hoping the ball would penetrate the neck near the 

 junction of the head; but my eye and hand failed me ; the 

 bullet glanced off the weather-beaten tree-trunk, smashed a 

 paw, ultimately glancing through the thick skin at the base 

 of the quarry's ear. My foe fell, but in a moment after was 

 on his legs, and, before I had time to think, came at me 

 with headlong speed. His lower jaw interfered with the 

 breast-shot, for his mouth was wide open : still I fired, for 

 I felt that only an instant existed between my being in his 

 grasp ; but the result was only a momentary recoil. I raised 

 my gun to save my head; but it was sent flying into the 

 brush, and I was prostrated. My sheath-knife, however, 

 was at hand. One, two, three stabs, a spasmodic gasp and 

 shudder of frame, and the wounded monster, trying to 

 encircle me with his paws, sank slowly by my side. His 

 left fore-foot was smashed to pieces, and his lower jaw 

 splintered, or I believe I never should have lived to narrate 

 the death of the grizzly of the Black Hills. 

 CINNAMON BEAR. 



This bear, which is cinnamon in colour, and doubtless 

 the connecting link between the grizzly and Arctic species, 



