ENCOUNTER WITH A G&IZZLY. 153 



endeavoring to ascertain how high he could reach. I had 

 not a clear shot, for, although my quarry was facing me, 

 the trunk of the deceased monarch of the woodlands was 

 between me and him. From my foe's manner, I felt con- 

 vinced that he was unaware of my presence ; this I could 

 have turned to advantage had a vital part been exposed. 

 Long I stood in my awkward position, hoping that he 

 would slew himself round ; but such a movement seemed 

 foreign to his intention. At length the grizzly lowered his 

 hold of the tree till his fore-paws were beneath the level of 

 his head, when, turning to the left, he rested the jaw upon 

 his foot, at the same moment obtaining the first view of me. 

 Not a muscle of the bear's body moved, while the small 

 pig-like eyes momentarily increased in the glow of their in- 

 tensity. In that gaze there was no mistake ; it clearly 

 said, " I will brook no intruder in my demesne, and the life 

 of him who is guilty of it shall pay the penalty." 



It was a fool-hardy or precipitous course to pursue. I 

 would not do it now, no, nor even then, if starvation had 

 not stared me in the face. I raised my gun and took sight, 

 hoping the ball would penetrate the neck near the junction 

 of the head ; but my eye and hand failed me ; the bullet 

 glanced off the weather-beaten tree-trunk, smashed a paw, 

 ultimately glancing through the thick skin at the base of 

 the quarry's ear. My foe fell, but in a moment after was 

 on his legs, and, before I had time to think, came at me 

 with headlong speed. His lower jaw interfered with the 

 breast-shot, for his mouth was wide open : still I fired, for 

 I felt that only an instant existed between my being in 

 his grasp ; but the result was only a momentary recoil. I 

 raised my gun to save my head ; but it was sent flying into 

 the brush, and I was prostrated. My sheath -knife, how- 

 ever, was at hand. One, two, three stabs, a spasmodic 

 gasp and shudder of frame, and the wounded monster, try- 



