AN ENCOUNTER WITH A GRIZZLY 431 



where our ponies had to slide and up precipices 

 which we had to make detours to surmount. 

 Sometimes it entered thickets so dense that we 

 tied the broncos and followed the trail on foot. 

 In such places there was little snow on the ground 

 and I was always in doubt whether the great 

 beast we were following was ahead of us, beside, 

 or even behind us, and as my companion kept 

 many yards from me while exploring some of the 

 thickets I became obsessed with the idea that the 

 bear was hunting me. 



Time passed and the sun became so hot that I 

 discarded coat and vest whenever I dismounted. 

 By noon I had become so +ired, discouraged, and 

 even angry that the feeling of dread with which 

 I had entered each thicket and relief when I 

 didn't find the quarry gave place to an intense 

 anxiety to meet the brute. We were approach- 

 ing a piece of thick w T oods when my pony became 

 almost unmanageable and as we dismounted the 

 half-breed whispered to me, 



"We've got him!" 



I went straight for the dense thicket before me, 



