INTRODUCTION. 15 



above should be to my mind an admirable exploit, how* 

 ever it may appear to the uninitiated. 



The vanquished bear was of considerable size weigh- 

 ing probably twelve hundred pounds. I had frequently 

 seen them much larger, bears weighing fifteen hundred 

 pounds being common in the Rocky Mountains. The 

 skin, I thought, would be a valuable addition to my pack, 

 and the fat sides promised me good living for several 

 days. Skinning the bear was quickly performed. Ac- 

 cording to the custom of the mountaineers, I cut off one 

 of the hind feet to retain as a trophy ; then secured my 

 steaks hungry as I was, they made my mouth water, 

 as the phrase goes and leaving the carcass to the wolves, 

 descended to the foot of the pass. 



My faithful mules Old Fly grass and Young Oregon 

 were cropping the scanty herbage near a small rivulet that 

 ran at the foot of the rocks. Their packs were lying under 

 a ledge a shady spot where I had resolved to encamp 

 when startled by the bear-sign. It was the afternoon of 

 a June day the sun was very warm, and having jour- 

 neyed about twenty miles since daybreak, I was fatigued 

 enough to en-joy a cool shade, a good meal, and a few 

 whiffs of the pipe. Kindling a fire was a work of some 

 difficulty. Trees were scarce near the Pass. I was at 

 least half an hour in gathering dry twigs, bark, and leaves, 

 nearly the same time was occupied in hunting up a 



