ECHO MOUNTAIN GRIZZLY 243 



The mother rose on her hind feet. Instantly 

 the cubs stopped playing and stood up, looking 

 silently, seriously at the mother, then at every 

 point toward which she gazed. Looking down 

 the slope she sniffed and sniffed the air. 



Holding the only remaining and crushed fore- 

 paw before her she looked it over intently. It 

 was bleeding and one toe nearly severed 

 hung loosely. The paw appeared to have been 

 crushed by a falling rock. With the cubs 

 watching her as she licked the wounded foot, 

 the hunter made ready and drew bead just be- 

 low the ear. 



The shadow of a passing cloud rushed along the 

 earth and caused the cubs to cease their serious 

 watching of their mother and to follow with 

 wondering eyes the ragged-edged shadow skat- 

 ing up the slope. The hunter, close enough 

 to see the blood dripping from the paw, shifted 

 slightly and aimed for the heart. Then, as he 

 flung his rifle at a boulder: "I'll be darned if 

 I'll kill a crippled mother bear!" 



THE END 



