Photo by George JSniras, 3rd 

 AN ALMOST BLACK SKUNK WHO TOOK HIS OWN PICTURE AT THE SAME PLACE 

 WHERE THE COONS ( PAGES 808 AND 809), THE OPOSSUM (PAGE 811), 

 AND THE CAT (PAGE 807) WERE ALSO PHOTOGRAPLIED 



canvas canoe is a poor craft for ascend- 

 ing swift streams, I soon saw that a mis- 

 take had been made in not bringing with 

 lis a long tracking line. However, with 

 two paddles and a pair of oars, some 

 progress could be made, our short line 

 being sufficient for working around the 

 more dangerous log- jams. 



CHARGED BY A SILVER-TIP GRIZZLY 



And now occurred an affair that shall 

 be briefly described, there following a 

 somewhat similar adventure later on 

 more appropriate for this article. 



While taking advantage, when strand- 

 ed on a sand-bar, to look at a favorite 

 crossing place for elk, I suddenly saw a 

 large animal leap out of the bushes at 

 the head of the bar and come down the 

 river. It proved to be an immense sil- 

 ver-tip grizzly, and as he was fully lOO 

 yards away none of us thought other 

 than that he was badly frightened, prob- 

 ably by our scent circling in behind him. 



This belief was but momentary, for with 

 head up and looking our way it was plain 

 he intended visiting the stranded boat. 



Beyond my exclamation, ''Look ahead !" 

 we were silent and motionless. When 

 the bear was 40 yards away, I managed 

 to get hold of a small revolver in a bag 

 at my feet, and in desperation fired two 

 shots over his head ; but on he came, 

 probably not hearing the slight crack of 

 the smokeless powder. Aiming the third 

 shot at his exposed chest when only a 

 dozen yards away, a swirl of the heavy 

 hair on the right showed the misdirected 

 bullet had creased his side, and at the 

 same instant the Montana guide, Farrell, 

 gave one of his mountain war whoops 

 and brandished an oar as threateningly 

 as possible. The bear stopped, swung 

 his big head from side to side, with his 

 small eyes fixed for the first time in- 

 tently on the boat, and then with a quick 

 whirl, which sent the loose gravel in 

 every direction, he put for the bank and 



812 



