UTTERLY OVERTHROWN. 291 



interest him ; and much to the amusement of the party 

 he inserted his nose into this, which happened to be 

 filled with hot water. A loud snarl, accompanied by 

 an ungainly start, testified to the animal's surprise. 

 He immediately seized the kettle as if it were a sensient 

 enemy, and in an instant capsized the contents over 

 himself ! A loud shout of laughter from the trappers 

 drew the attention of the enraged animal towards them, 

 when he ran to the water's edge, and without hesita- 

 tion plunged in, evidently with the intention of attack- 

 ing the raft. But alas for poor Ephraim ! Three rifles 

 which seldom varied from their mark were directed 

 upon the massive forehead, which, elevated above the 

 waves, presented a perfect target. The three reports 

 seemed as one, and when the smoke cleared, the feeble 

 splashing of the bear as he endeavoured to keep afloat 

 served to show that he no longer meditated fight. The 

 raft was immediately poled towards him, and Jake had 

 just time to fling a noose over the grizzly's head as the 

 carcass began to sink. 



The hunters again landed, and with considerable 

 difficulty they contrived to drag the dead bear upon 

 the beach, where they busied themselves in removing 

 the hide. 



The grizzly bear has an extensive range. It is found 

 throughout the solitudes of the Rocky Mountains (with 

 an occasional hiatus) from the great bend of the Rio 

 Grande in the south to at least the sixty-second degree 

 of north latitude. It is also common in the plains 



(786) 19 



