ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 99 



efficient as they seemed, he had done good service, every arrow 

 being smeared with blood to the feathers. He told Richardson 

 that he and his three or four companions had killed about sixty 

 buffalo, and that now, having meat enough, they intended to re- 

 turn to their camp to-morrow. 



This afternoon I observed a large flock of wild geese passing 

 over ; and upon watching them, perceived that they alighted about 

 a mile and a half from us, where I knew there was a lake. Con- 

 cluding that a little change of diet might be agreeable, I sallied 

 forth with my gun across the plain in quest of the birds. I soon 

 arrived at a thick copse of willow and currant bushes, which 

 skirted the water, and was about entering, when I heard a sort 

 of angry growl or grunt directly before me — and instantly after, 

 saw a grizzly bear of the largest kind erect himself upon his hind 

 feet within a dozen yards of me, his savage eyes glaring with 

 horrible malignity, his mouth wide open, and his tremendous 

 paws raised as though ready to descend upon me. For a mo- 

 ment, I thought my hour liad come, and that I was fated to die 

 an inglorious death away from my friends and my kindred ; but 

 after waiting a moment in agonizing suspense, and the bear show- 

 ing no inclination to advance, my lagging courage returned, and 

 cocking both barrels of my gun, and presenting it as steadily as 

 my nerves would allow, full at the shaggy breast of the creature, 

 I retreated slowly backwards. Bruin evidently had no notion of 

 braving gunpowder, but I did not know whether, like a dog, if 

 the enemy retreated he would not yet give me a chase ; so when I 

 had placed about a hundred yards between us, I wheeled about 

 and flew, rather than ran, across the plain towards the camp. 

 Several times during this run for life, (as I considered it,) did I 

 fancy that I heard the bear at my heels ; and not daring to look 

 over my shoulder to ascertain the fact, I only increased my 

 speed, until the camp was nearly gained, when, from sheer ex- 

 haustion I relaxed my efforts, fell flat upon the ground, and 



