THE ANGLER AXD HIXTSM \\ 139 



With a great roar of anguish caused by the immense pain 

 the bullet-wounds produced, the huge grizzly bear reared up 

 on its haunches, snapping and biting frantically and 

 viciously; then he charged directly at John, his teeth bared 

 and giving forth ugly snarls as only a really mad bear knows 

 how. Seeing John's imminent danger, his pal came to the 

 rescue, putting in a good shot on his side, but still the bear 

 proceeded to charge John, who was backing up degree by 

 degree, fearing to turn and run, lest the bear would follow 

 suit and catch him before he could reach a tree, for the bear, 

 tho' clumsy in appearance, is really very agile and active, 

 especially when riled up, as was this fellow. The next shot, 

 however, caused the bear to turn on John's friend and 

 charge him. This, of course, was my friend's queue to go 

 to the assistance of his mate, which he did without delay, 

 opening fire from his side. . John 's object was to break both 

 shoulders of the bear, thus rendering him comparatively 

 harmless. A ball aimed at the head is seldom effective, un- 

 less placed just behind the ear, and shots through the ribs or 

 stomach serve only to make him intensely savage with pain, 

 and a bear thus wounded, I know, is all every writer ever 

 claimed and perhaps then some, often 10 or 12 hits being re- 

 quired to finish the job, unless a lucky ball be planted in a 

 vital spot. It is important to maintain as much distance 

 as possible between one and the bear while he is in his angry 

 mood, and a good plan is to keep backing steadily, firing 

 alternately with as much precision as you can possibly sum- 

 mon. Precision in aiming is a vital point, neglecting which 

 you run great risk of eventually getting badly hurt or killed. 

 Suddenly the bear broke" into a run and turned and 

 came at John on a dead run, thinking apparently to put an 

 end to one adversary at a time and do it quickly. John was 

 stampeded with fear. He said afterward he lost his rea- 

 soning power by the suddenness and violence of the attack. 

 He thought he was a goner. He broke and ran; seemingly 

 there was nothing else to do, tho' he had always known this 



