48 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



pericnces. The last "story" was told by a swarthy old veteran, 

 and according- to that he had killed a bear single-handed with 

 only a hunting-knife, by simply evading a blow of its paw, 

 and then cutting its jugular vein before it could meet his 

 attack. Having slept soundly, we were awake promptly at 

 four a.m., and after partaking of a light breakfast, we loaded our 

 rifles and revolvers, and saddled our steeds and were in motion 

 in less than an hour. 



Deploying in skirmishing order, and in the form of a 

 crescent, we advanced towards a coppice of oaks half a mile 

 in front, which grizzlies were known to frequent. We were 

 accompanied by a dozen mongrel dogs of many breeds, and 

 they were taken by one of the party to the top of a hill, so 

 that they might drive the quarry towards us. He took the 

 precaution to keep to the leeward of the copse, for if even the 

 daring grizzly caught the odour of humanity it would some- 

 times think it the better part of valour to beat a rapid retreat. 

 The captain of the skirmish line gave us orders how to move 

 by the wave of his hand, and all obeyed most promptly. On 

 reaching the wood we held the reins tighter, grasped the 

 saddle closer with our legs, and placed the barrel of the rifle in 

 the crook of the left arm. This was no sooner done than the 

 dogs gave tongue; the chorus became loud, then broken and 

 general, and in a few minutes after a splendid male grizzly 

 emerged from the bushes, about one hundred yards distant. 

 When he saw the circle around him he hesitated a moment, 

 but the noise of the dogs soon decided his movements, and he 

 made for the opening in front. Bang went a rifle, followed 

 in a second by another. My horse, which had been 

 restless, now showed undoubted terror; he wheeled and was 

 making for the rear at his best pace, but when 1 got the reins 

 out of my mouth and into my hands I gave the Spanish bit 

 a touch that nearly threw him on his haunches, and wheeling 

 him I made for my place in the crescent. I found my mustang- 

 was not alone in his fright, for I saw two more making their 

 best strides for home. When I reached my position bruin was 

 making for that direction, as it was the only opening left. I 

 fired at him twice in rapid succession, but at this moment my 



