138 PEAIRIE AND FOREST. 



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 oif 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 Ins legs, and, before 

 I had time to think, came at me with head-long 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 doubt- 

 less the connecting link between the grizzly and Arctic- 

 species, has considerable resemblance to both, but, 

 smaller and slighter built than the former, still 

 possesses all its vindictiveness of character and powers, 

 of vitality, combined with greater activity. 



