194 WOLVES AND GAME. 



tumbled over the precipice upon the bear. 

 " AATiauh !" growled master bruin — " Mur- 

 der !" screamed the giant — " Clinch it, Camp- 

 bell, or you're gone!" exclaimed his com- 

 rades ; for no one could venture to shoot for 

 fear of kiUing the. man. The latter, however, 

 had no notion of closing clutches with his 

 long-clawed antagonist, but busied himself in 

 vain attempts to clamber up the steep bank ; 

 while the bear rising upon his hinder legs, 

 and staring a moment at the huge frame of 

 the blacksmith, soon made up his mind as to 

 the expediency of 'turning tail,' and finally 

 succeeded in making his escape, notwith- 

 standing a volley of shot that were fired after 

 him. 



The large gray wolf of the Prairies is also 

 to be found in great abundance m Northern 

 Mexico. They sometimes make dreadful 

 havoc among the cattle, frequently kilhng and 

 devouring even mules and horses : but they 



never extend their rapacity so far as to attack 

 human beings, unless urged by starvation. 

 There are other animals of prey about the 

 mountains, among which the panther is most 

 conspicuous. 



Elk and deer are also to be met with, but 

 not in large quantities. Of the latter, the 

 species known as the black-tailed deer is the 

 most remarkable. It differs but httle from the 

 common buck, except that it is of darker 



that, thou 



bordered with black, and 



dy 



larger. The carnero ciiiiarron or bighorn of 



