224: AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 



standin' straight up, may be, fifty feet. Around this point, 

 the path turned sharp almost as your elbow. 



" I was passin' quietly round this pint, lookin' down into 

 the gully, with Crop at my heels, when, on turnin' the short 

 elbow, there I stood, face to face, and within ten feet of a 

 mighty big bear, that was travellin' my way, as the Judge 

 said. I had no idee that he was around, and I'm quite 

 sartain he didn't expect to meet a human in such a place. 

 Of course, we were naterally astonished at seem' one 

 another just then, and the meetin' didn't seem to be alto- 

 gether agreeable to either party. I ain't easily scared whea 

 I've time to prepare for a scrimmage, yet, I'm free to say, 

 I'd have given a couple of wolf-scalps to've been on the 

 other side of the gully, just at that time. The bear seemed 

 to expect me -to begin the fight, for, after gruntin' out in a 

 very oncivil way his surprise at makin' my acquaintance, he 

 reared himself up on eend, and, with a fierce growl, showed 

 a set of ivory that wasn't pleasant to look at. I should 

 have been willin' myself, to've backed down, and apologized 

 for my rudeness in crossin' his path, for I was carryin' my 

 rifle carelessly in my left band, and our meetin' was so sud- 

 den that I scarcely had time to bring it to bear upon the 

 kritter. I rather think I should have dodged back, any 

 how, but Crop seemed to think his master was in danger, 

 and that he was obligated, live or die, to go in. So, quick 

 as a flash, he rushed by me, and threw himself into the very 

 face of the desperate brute. Crop made a great mistake 



