THE LION PLAYS SOFT PEDAL 117 



Then he returned to the place where he was 

 first alarmed and edged to the left, advancing 

 more rapidly. After many advances, retreats, 

 and changes of course, he approached an opening 

 between spruces beneath which was a bear den. 

 He paused here for a moment, then went on his 

 way. At the point where he paused I could 

 sniff rank hibernating bear odour on the air. 



After only a few minutes along another lion's 

 tracks these were joined by the tracks of a grizzly. 

 A black bear had crossed these. Following the 

 lion's and the grizzly's trails less than two 

 hours I came to where the lion had killed a colt. 

 He had eaten his fill and lain down, and while 

 evidently planning another meal off the colt the 

 grizzly appeared. The lion rushed up to his 

 kill. Toward him the grizzly had slowly ad- 

 vanced, without a stop. Evidently the lion 

 had struck at him, then dodged back and stood 

 for a time watching the bear feed, and offering 

 jarring, jazzing accompaniments. Then the lion 

 had rushed the grizzly, and after two or three 

 rushes the lion had been knocked sprawling, 

 and on arising the bear had flung him a few 

 yards down the mountain side. 



The lion lost his kill, but on circumstantial 

 evidence the grizzly at the feast the horse 

 owner offered a reward for the horse-killing 

 grizzly. 



