40 .SV'CVv' TING A D I T RNTL *R1LS 



that they were trembling with fright, and on looking for the 

 cause of it I beheld a large object crouching on the ground 

 about sixty yards away, and on gazing at it intently for a 

 short time I concluded that it was either a bear or a cougar, 

 and that it was feasting on something. Taking deliberate aim 

 at it I fired, and when the report died away I could hear the gruff 

 " huf, huf " of a grizzly, but ere I could load the second time it 

 had disappeared behind a mass of crags. 



The shot had alarmed the camp and brought the armed war- 

 riors rushing towards me, and in response to their inquiries I 

 told them in one word what was up. Calling the dogs, we 

 followed the bear, and were soon on its tracks, passing on our 

 way a partially eaten mustang. The route led us up the preci- 

 pice and into a piece of woods, and there the trail was lost by 

 both dogs and men. Being resolved to have the animal if 

 possible, the men deployed, and were soon carefully examining 

 every fallen leaf and blade of grass in search of bruin's footsteps. 

 "While engaged in this business, I was startled suddenly by 

 the abrupt yelling of a pack of curs directly behind me, and 

 on bounding round to see what it meant was thunder-struck to 

 sec a huge male grizzly bearing down on me, while the dogs 

 yelped and barked around him, yet took excellent care not to 

 go too near him. I had just time enough to jump behind a 

 young fir when he went tearing past me through the under- 

 growth, but before he had proceeded ten paces I gave him the 

 contents of my breech-loader, a large army rifle. I must have 

 struck him badly, for he turned round and charged me viciously, 

 and as no other means of escape then presented itself to my 

 mind I scrambled up the tree near which I stood with all the 

 speed that the fear of a horrible death could impart to limbs 

 that were neither old nor weak. 



1 had not reached a perch before my foe was at the base of 

 the tree, but 1 was beyond the reach of his jaws, and this gave 

 me such a feeling of safety that I turned my head round to 

 gaze at his position. 1 could see his huge jaws agape, and 

 hear his hot breath come out in gasps, as if he were severely 

 wounded, and on noticing these incidents ] scrambled on a 

 strong bough, and seated myself on it with a feeling of pleasure 



