THE GRIZZLY BEAK, 2iU 



or four feet deep, about a hundred paces from the 

 pond. We heaped up the soil around the side, and 

 made a bank behind which we could conceal our- 

 selves, and then we hid ourselves, our arms loaded, 

 and waited for the arrival of the grizzly bears. 



" AVe lay in wait all night in vain, and a great 

 many wild animals came to drink, but no grizzly 

 bear. There were wolves, panthers, and other 

 creatm-es, but we did not think it worth while to 

 burn powder over those creatures, for the sound of 

 the gun would have frightened the bears from the 

 neighbourhood of the pond. When the morning 

 dawned we issued forth from our ambuscade, stiff, 

 weary with watching, and in anytliing but a good 

 temper. We had not seen so much as the shadow 

 of a grizzly bear, although we had heard their growls 

 at some distance. We learnt afterwards that, at- 

 tracted by our horses, they had prowled round the 

 camp all night, and the men whom we had left in 

 charge passed the time in mortal dread, though they 

 had the presence of mind to keep up a good fire, the 

 light of which prevented the bears from attacking. 



" I had given up all hope of getting a chance at 

 these creatures, but I didn't like to go back without 

 some kind of game to show for our long watch. 

 We had already passed the ravine which la}- in our 

 road to the camp, when a herd of deer crossed our 

 path, running as if they were in a state of mortal 

 terror. Without attempting to ascertain what it 



