ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 85 



stagnant stream, heading with the waters of a rapid rivulet 

 passed yesterday, which empties into the Bear river. This 

 stream passes in a north-westerly direction through a valley of 

 about six miles in width, covered with quagmires, through which 

 we had great difficulty in making our way. As we approached 

 our encampment, near a small grove of willows, on the margin 

 of the river, a tremendous grizzly bear rushed out upon us. 

 Our horses ran wildly in every direction, snorting with terror, 

 and became nearly unmanageable. Several balls were instantly 

 fired into him, but they only seemed to increase his fury. After 

 spending a moment in rending each wound, (their invariable 

 practice,) he selected the person who happened to be nearest, and 

 darted after him, but before he proceeded far, he was sure to be 

 stopped again by a ball from another quarter. In this way he 

 was driven about amongst us for perhaps fifteen minutes, at 

 times so near some of the horses, that he received several severe 

 kicks from them. One of the pack horses was fairly fastened upon 

 by the terrific claws of the brute, and in the terrified animal's 

 efforts to escape the dreaded gripe, the pack and saddle were 

 broken to pieces and disengaged. One of our mules also lent 

 him a kick in the head while pursuing it up an adjacent hill, 

 which sent him rolling to the bottom. Flerc he v/as finally 

 brought to a stand. 



The poor animal was so completely surrounded by enemies 

 that he became bewildered. He raised himself upon his hind 

 feet, standing almost erect, his mouth partly open, and from his 

 protruding tongue the blood fell fast in drops. While in this 

 position, he received about six more balls, each of which made 

 him reel. At last, as in complete desperation, he dashed into the 

 water, and swam several yards with astonishing strength and 

 agility, the guns cracking at him constantly; but he was not to 

 proceed far. Just then, Richardson, who had been absent, rode 

 up, and fixing his deadly aim upon him, fired a ball into the back 



