CHAPTER X. 



BEARS. 



GRIZZLY \Ursus fer ox). The ambition of every Ameri- 

 can sportsman is to shoot a grizzly, and he who has per- 

 formed the task is justly entitled to wear his spurs, for un- 

 questionably he is one of the most dangerous antagonists 

 that man can cope with. Their habitat at the present time 

 extends from about the twenty-fifth degree of north lati- 

 tude to Oregon, following along the sierjas of the Rocky 

 Mountains. At one time they were found eastward as 

 far as Kansas and Missouri, but that is many years ago. 

 Nearly all the accidents that have occurred while hunting 

 the grizzly have originated through the assailants being 

 armed with small-bore rifles weapons almost as much out 

 of place with such an antagonist as they would be in shoot- 

 ing elephants. The curl upon the chest, the base of the 

 ear, and the shoulder rather far back and low down, are 

 the most vital places to aim at. If the ground be suitable 

 for riding, a steady horse will be found of great service to 

 the hunter, and materially lessen the danger he would oth- 

 erwise run. 



There are very few and thank goodness -for it ! who 

 rise from their bed in the morning as unrefreshed as when 

 they stretched their weary limbs upon it to crave for rest. 

 It was exactly in this unenviable state I felt when I pulled 

 myself together to turn out as the sun was breaking on a 

 misty morning. Dozed I might have rested I had not; 

 but day had broken, and I felt thankful; for, although 

 weary, thirsting for rest, in whatever position I lay, on 



