IN THE FAR WEST. 41 



one can only know who has been in the same position. On 

 looking down once more I saw the dogs worrying my besieger, 



but he seemed to take little notice of them, and to devote all 

 his attention to my situation. In a few moments more he was 

 in full retreat, however, for on every side of him were howling 

 Indians who were plying bow or rifle as rapidly as possible. 

 The raising of the siege induced me to descend at once, and 

 picking up my rifle, which was uninjured, I loaded it and 

 joined in the chase with five others. Not finding any oppor- 

 tunity to fire to good advantage, I reserved my h're, and for- 

 tunate did this prove for a heedless brave in a short time, for 

 while the grizzly was rushing through a dense piece of shrub- 

 bery this young warrior placed himself directly in front of 

 him at less than thirty paces, and fired straight into his face; 

 but he must have missed his aim, for the bear charged him 

 with open mouth, and, before he could escape by running, 

 overtook him, knocked the rifle out of his hand, and seizing 

 him by the shoulder bore him to the ground face downward. 

 The brave drew his knife promptly, and turning partially 

 round, began to use it on the neck and chest of his huge 

 captor; but he was evidently getting the worst of it, for the 

 bear was using teeth and claws with a vigour that must soon 

 have finished him had not aid arrived. 



While both were struggling fiercely in this contest of life and 

 death, the chief and myself appeared on the scene from 

 opposite quarters, and rushing towards the foe I delivered inv 

 fire at his heart at a distance of a few paces; and before he 

 could relinquish his hold to face us, the chief gave him the con- 

 tents of a revolver in rapid succession in the head, and he fell 

 over dead, after giving one or two violent gasps. The fallen 

 man was picked up more dead than alive, as his arm and chest 

 were fearfully lacerated, his face was one mass of blood, and 

 his side had the flesh torn off from the arm to the abdomen, 

 lie was a most ghastly object to g.ize at. and as his limp form 

 was borne away I did not expect to see him reach camp alive. 

 When reinforcements arrived, several lariats were sent for, 

 and with these the fallen monarch was dragged near the 

 canyon, and left there while we went to get some breakfast. 



