54 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



have been as big as a cow. The wind was in his 

 favour, and getting scent of me he placed his front feet 

 on a log and began sniffing the air. I could see his 

 big head going up and down, and must confess that 

 I felt a little chill run over me. The old Sharp's 

 rifle always seemed so big and heavy before, but now 

 I wished it was a cannon. I took the best aim pos- 

 sible, holding my breath to prevent muscular move- 

 ment, and remembering the advice of my father to 

 always see that the sights were on the gun before 

 pulling trigger, then I fired. The gun belched forth 

 its load with a roar which was echoed by another 

 roar from the bear. 



"Here he came growling, rolling, tumbling, fall- 

 ing, jumping, and bellowing, making a terrific noise. 

 I slipped off my shoes, reloaded the gun, placed a 

 handful of cartridges in the crown of my hat by my 

 side, and waited. I thought the whole gang might 

 appear and wanted to be ready for any emergency. 

 The old fellow came on towards me, and I determined 

 that if he ever crossed that stream I would give him 

 another 520-grain bullet. He would get tangled up 

 in a fallen spruce tree and would tear himself loose 

 in a most wonderful manner. Now he was in the 

 willows, rolling and tumbling and biting everything 

 that was in his way. 



" His strength and activity were simply won- 

 derful. One blow of his mighty paw would have 

 killed the greatest prize-fighter that ever lived. 

 I have heard stories of men killing grizzly bears 

 with their knives, but I don't think it possible 

 for twenty men to have stood before that bear 



