His Fierceness 239 



conduct is a simple one. If a grizzly approaches me 

 knowing that I am there — or that something is there that 

 he wants to identify — I have no fear of him; but I have 

 a very wholesome fear of allowing one to approach me 

 unwittingly, so that a sudden discovery of me might 

 startle him or appear to him like an attack. If one re- 

 treats before a curious grizzly the chances are that he 

 will follow, and then, to a misinformed observer, his in- 

 tention of foul play seems proved beyond a reasonable 

 doubt. 



These facts being understood, it is most interesting to 

 recall the experiences of Captain Meriwether Lewis on 

 June 14, 1805. Certainly a braver man than Captain 

 Lewis never faced a bear, and this fact (knowing what 

 we know) adds an element of humor to the scene. On 

 that day, it will be recalled, Captain Lewis had shot a 

 young buffalo, and, without having recharged his muzzle- 

 loader, was waiting for the animal to bleed to death. 



Suddenly "he beheld a large brown bear which was 

 stealing on him unperceived and was already within 

 twenty paces." Remember, please, what the captain 

 had been told about this animal; remember how long it 

 took to reload the gun he carried; look again at the photo- 

 graph of a curious grizzly "stealing up unperceived," and 

 imagine his state of mind! He was on an "open, level 

 plain — not a bush or a tree within three hundred yards." 

 The river bank was low and offered no concealment. 

 There was hope only in flight, and not much hope in that. 

 In this dilemma the captain " thought of retreating at a quick 

 walk as fast as the bear advanced, but as soon as he turned 

 the bear ran open mouthed and at full speed upon him." 



