82 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



This is sure a good knife. I made it myself out of 

 a drill, and I made this one too," drawing its mate 

 from his belt. The blades were twelve inches long 

 and of finely tempered steel. "They're sure bear 

 knives, and long enough to reach a bear's heart. If 

 a bear ever comes across this old man he will sure 

 feel this knife in his heart. See these buckhorn 

 handles? I sure made them and killed the buck that 

 wore the horns." 



Beaty was a typical mountaineer, and as he stood 

 flourishing the big knives above his big sombrero, 

 with his buckskin coat, he looked a fit match for any 

 bear that walked the range. His continued talk of 

 what he would "sure" do and Dyche's knowledge 

 of the power of the grizzly bear, made the latter a 

 little dubious as to the outcome of a fight with Beaty 

 and a bear as chief actors, but he kept his counsel 

 and drew the mountaineer out until the woods were 

 filled with the sound of his big bear talk. 



The first day passed pleasantly, barring the many 

 "unpleasantnesses" between Reuben and his rider, 

 and camp was made by the side of a spring in a 

 grassy meadow. The second day took the party 

 through a long stretch of burned timber ; the donkeys 

 caused much trouble by continually running into 

 snags and tearing their packs. Camp was made on 

 the slope of the mountain, near a bunch of quaking 

 asp and spruce trees. As the train approached the 

 spot an old hen grouse flew up, and while the sup- 

 per was being prepared the young grouse could be 

 heard "peeping" in the grass and bushes. Mrs. 

 Dyche could not rest until the little fellows had been 



