34 SrORTIXG 



means of routing a grizzly is to go up a tree and tumble down 

 on it suddenly; yet I would not advise any person to try it. 



Judge we may say Blank of San Francisco, a famous 

 Nimrod and lover of good wine, had an adventure once with 

 a grizzly that displayed both humour and courage. Having 

 been elected one of a select few that were going out for a 

 week's shooting among the grouse and quail, he was asked to 

 be ready to join the party at a very early hour in the morning, 

 so that a camping-place could be reached in the afternoon. lie 

 agreed on condition that a generous supply of a certain fluid 

 was taken along, and his proposition being accepted, everything 

 was made ready for a prompt start. The night before starting 

 he attended a ball, and before morning was so much under the 

 influence of his favourite beverage that he tumbled in the mire 

 several times on his way home, much to the detriment of his 

 evening dress and opera hat. He had scarcely entered his 

 room before a carriage called to take him to the rendezvous, 

 and despite the earnest protestation of his friends he insisted 

 upon going in the costume he wore, or not at all. As his wit 

 and humour were much needed to enliven cam]) in the evening, 

 he was taken as he stood, and the party having united, they 

 started for the mountains about forty miles distant, and there 

 pitched the camp, and lighted a fire at once to prepare supper. 

 "While that was being cooked, a Spaniard approached the 

 group and stated that there was a grizzly a few rods off in the 

 bushes. He was asked why he did not kill it, and he non- 

 chalantly replied that he had lost no bears. The Judge, who 

 was dozing near the ashes, jumped up when he heard grizzly 

 mentioned, and said that he would bring it into camp. 



His seedy appearance and the quaintness of his hunting 

 costume caused his companions to greet his heroic boast with 

 roars of laughter, and to chaff him unmercifully; but his 

 mettle was up, and with a half-drunken leer he said he would 

 prove it; and seizing an empty shot-gun he strode into the 

 shrubbery. He was not gone more than twenty minutes 

 before a tremendous commotion was heard in the bushes, and 

 they were seen to sway in every direction. The party were 

 alarmed at once, and all seized their weapons and prepared for 



