Cherry 



the next world ; but not so the resourceful 

 Cherry. Short as was the time for delibera- 

 tion, his fertile instinct was equal to the occa- 

 sion. With the rapidity of a lightning-change 

 artist, he proceeded to divest himself of his 

 clothing, which he tossed over the cliff, and 

 then, throwing himself on all fours, he pro- 

 ceeded to meet the advancing grizzly. In 

 those days, as he explained, he was a most 

 powerful man, and covered with a superabund- 

 ance of hair. This latter acted as his disguise, 

 and, putting on a bold front, he awaited the 

 approaching grizzly, which growled and 

 showed his teeth as he came up. Cherry did 

 likewise. They drew closer, and putting their 

 noses together, both bristled up and growled 

 louder and fiercer. The bear sniffed at 

 Cherry, who returned the compliment. The 

 bear pawed the earth. So did Cherry ; and 

 then, with bristles erect and a parting growl, 

 each went his way, with an occasional snarl and 

 a look backward, until the next turn hid them 

 from view. As Cherry was whittling a stick and 

 putting some sand on it, preparatory to sharp- 

 ening his skinning knife for removing the hide 

 of the bear, he remarked that that was about 

 as close a call as he had ever had, but, as he 



65 



