136 PEAIRIE AND FOREST. 



I had got sufficiently close to my sleeping-place to 

 perceive the white smoke circling from the gradually 

 expiring fire, when again I came across the grizzly's 

 track, and so fresh that I felt sure its maker had been at 

 the camp during my absence. In a moment I came to a 

 resolution, the intruder must pay the penalty of his 

 rashness or I perish in the attempt. 



What would that matter, only one more unknown 

 to be added to the thousands whose eyes have closed in 

 unknown land, although their mothers pray unceasingly 

 for them, and day by day look for their return. 



Beaching the camp I found my conjectures had been 

 correct : the bear had been there during my absence, 

 turned over the pack and tried the flavour of both flaps 

 and stirrup leathers of my saddle. To obtain water 

 to wash my gun out with, I melted a quantity of snow 

 in my solitary cooking dish ; for the foe I was about to 

 encounter I was well aware would fight me with tooth 

 and claw till death separated us, and on a miss or 

 hang fire depended my life. 



I cannot say I liked my task. I was not strong or 

 well enough to court such an encounter, and several 

 times I thought, as I followed the tell-tale impressions 

 in the snow, how much rather I would prefer it to be 

 a deer. However, it appeared to me to be kismit, 

 destiny, or aught else you choose to call it, that I should 

 meet the grim giant of the forest in deadly strife. 



About a mile and a half from home so camp is 

 ever called, however humble its appurtenances I came 

 to a place where the grizzly had halted and scratched 

 up the wild cranberries, which through all low-lying 

 lands, in this portion of the country, are abundant ; 

 but it was evident that they were not sufficiently 



