THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 221 



I was in a state of stable equilibrium, bodily and men- 

 tally (if it ever is given to a rector of a New York church 

 so to be), vt^hen a mighty rumpus arose from the edge of the 

 dark woods where our horses were lariated, two or three 

 liundred yards below. On his way upward, a big Grizzly 

 had been Joined by a relative or acquaintance (history will 

 never say which), and, as ill luck would have it, they both 

 came suddenly on the horses, hidden and securely tied in a 

 little hollow. From where 1 sat I could see nothing; but 

 running down a few yards, I came in sight of two sturdy 

 fellows surveying our plunging nags, as for one moment 

 they evidently held a hurried consultation. The conclusion 

 they arrived at was that they were out for venison, not for 

 horse-flesh, especially when there was more than a suspicion 

 of a dangerous smell around; in brief, they struck our trail, 

 and scented the saddle, and so in an instant were off. Of 

 course, we had settled on a spot toward which the wind 

 blew from the ravine (Frank was a quarter of a mile away, 

 on the other side of the prairie), for Bears almost always 

 come up at evening from the deepest hiding-places; and 

 these Bears ran oif, quartering uji-wind, giving me a long 

 running-shot, as they made great time among the tall, rank 

 grass and flowers. 



Sit down when you shoot, if it is possible. There is no 

 better ijosition than with an elbow on either knee; you can 

 shoot fast and straight, and the position is high enough to 

 carry your head and rifle above small inequalities of the 

 ground. I let drive, and missed — shot too far ahead, I 

 fancy. Always shoot too far ahead, rather than too far 

 behind. Nine times out of ten, a bullet plumx)ed in front 

 of running game will halt it for a moment; and so now it 

 turned out. The leader reared up for an instant, and the 

 instant's pause was fatal. The next bullet took him fair in 

 the ceiitci of the chest. He had just time to give his solicit- 

 ous coiiipuuion a wipe with his paw, that would have come 

 near wiping out a strong man, when he rolled over. 



Bear No. 2 concluded he had an engagement somewhere 

 else, and was settling down to a business-like gait when he 



