ENCOUNTER WITH A GRIZZLY. 137 



numerous or attractive to detain him long. Again 

 striking the trail, I persistently followed it till I 

 reached some thick timber, much covered with wind- 

 falls. Through such obstacles progress is naturally 

 slow, and difficulties to your advance numerous. 

 Moreover, in such a place one has to be doubly 

 guarded, for on every side, in front, in rear, the up- 

 turned roots or labyrinth of semi-deca} T ed limbs can be 

 formed into an ambuscade. But Bruin was not a 

 rifleman, and did not avail himself of these natural 

 lurking-places, so I reached the further side of the 

 belt of timber without seeing a foe, for which I was 

 heartily thankful ; but as I straddled the last log 

 which intervened between me and the open land, 

 not twenty yards to my front I perceived the object 

 of my search reared up to full length against a dead 

 tree, as if endeavouring to ascertain how high he 

 could reach. I had not a clear shot, for, although 

 my quarry was facing me, the trunk of the deceased 

 monarch of the woodlands was between me and him. 

 From my foe's manner I felt convinced that he was 

 unaware of my presence ; this I could have turned to 

 advantage had a vital part been exposed. Long I 

 stood in my awkward position, hoping that he would 

 slue himself round ; but such a movement seemed 

 foreign to his intention. At length the grizzly lowered 

 his hold of the tree till his fore-paws were beneath the 

 level of his head, when, turning to the left, he rested 

 the jaw upon 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 their intensity. In that gaze 

 there was no mistake; it clearly said, " I will brook 



