Companion 



ing, or when Adams was attacking a grizzly. Ben 

 was once severely injured in a fight with a jag- 

 uar. He was not chained except when near a vil- 

 lage, and then only for the safety of the excited 

 dogs. 



On one of his hunting-expeditions in the moun- 

 tains of Oregon, Adams had what he considered one 

 of the narrowest escapes of his life. He had with 

 him as usual Rambler and Ben Franklin. While 

 passing through a thicket Adams came unexpect- 

 edly upon a mother grizzly with cubs. The mother 

 bear at once knocked him down and began to chew 

 him up. Ben Franklin had not heretofore seen one 

 of his kin. 



"What will Ben do?" thought Adams, "help me 

 or join his own kind and also attack me?" 



There was neither doubt nor hesitation in Ben's 

 mind. Though young and small, he went to the 

 defense of his master against a grizzly five times 

 his own size. So vigorously did Ben throw himself 

 upon the big grizzly that she turned from Adams 

 and vented her fury upon Ben. Though badly 

 wounded, Adams was able with this opportunity 

 to reach for his rifle and kill the grizzly. 



Ben ran howling to camp. Adams, also fright- 

 219 



