The Grizzly Bear 379 



camp, and I was awakened by our people hurrying to and 

 fro in noisy confusion. ... As I drew near to the clump 

 of red cedars whence the sound of firearms issued . . . 

 one of the half-breeds came running back and informed 

 me that the row was occasioned by a grizzly, that had 

 tried to carry off one of the baggage ponies, but had been 

 driven off by the guard, who fired at him, and that in 

 revenge he had carried off an Indian boy who had charge 

 of the dogs. Guided by the shouting, which still continued, 

 and accompanied by Pierre, who carried a second gun, I 

 entered the copse and found a big grizzly evidently master 

 of the situation ; for although three or four of our Black- 

 foot scouts were halloaing around him, he did not appear 

 to mind them, but confined his attentions to Crib, a bull- 

 terrier, that pluckily kept him at bay by dancing about all 

 round him, without risking a mauling by getting within 

 striking reach of his claws. I was mounted on a thoroughly 

 broken Indian mustang . . . and rode pretty close up 

 before I saw that the boy was lying on the ground 

 apparently so badly hurt as to be insensible, while the 

 faithful old dog was doing what he could to protect him 

 by harassing his huge antagonist. 



" On my riding up to about twenty yards' distance, ' Old 

 Ephraim ' raised himself on his hind legs, and cocked his 

 head knowingly on one side, as if he were going to make a 

 rush. Whilst he was in this attitude, his brawny chest 

 being fully exposed, I gave him the contents of both 

 barrels almost simultaneously, which rolled him over on 

 his back, where he made several convulsive movements 

 with his paws. . . . Dismounting, I took my second 



