56 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



one that more daring than the rest attacks him in front, and even in the act 

 of trampHng him down, falls upon the body of his prostrate foe, too feeble to carry 

 on the unequal combat. Never will he rise again, for instantly the hungry wolves 

 fairly swarm upon him, and soon nothing will be left to tell of the once mighty 

 Bison, but a well-picked skeleton, whitening in the summer sun. 



But one other animal may, perhaps, be able to dispute the mastery of 

 his native fields with the full-grown, powerful Bison-bull, and that one is the 

 terrible Grizzly Bear. Of nearly if not quite his equal in weight, armed with 

 fearful claws and strong teeth, this dreaded inhabitant of the far west is an 

 adversary that neither man nor beast may wish to provoke. Fortunately he rarely 

 attacks first, but if permitted, will rather betake himself off than indulge in any 

 conflict. This, however, is not always the case, for if disturbed when feeding, or 

 if the means of escape are cut off, or more serious still, if it should be a female 

 with cubs that is met with, then indeed any hunter or beast that intrudes upon 

 this savage must look well to himself, for the onslaught is both sudden and 

 desperate. 



Although of a heavy, clumsy form, the Grizzly Bear is capable of very rapid 

 movements, and instances have been known when the speed of a good horse has 

 been barely sufiicient to enable a hunter to escape from the fury of this animal. 

 When thus striving to overtake - its enemy, this powerful beast follows in long 

 leaps, roaring with rage,' and trying to seize the object of its pursuit in its curved 

 claws. Fortunately it cannot continue its rapid course for any length of time. 

 Terrible would be the duel, if when aroused to anger, these two great beasts should 

 meet and. engage in conflict. Difficult indeed would it be to foretell which would , 

 come off" victorious. Their mode of . life does not often cause themi to interfere 

 with each other, the Bear preferring the seclusion of the thick jungle, while the 

 Bison, as I have said, is a dweller on the open plains. It is possible, however, 

 that they have fierce disputes at times, and the moment has been selected for 

 illustration when a sharp-clawed Grizzly is overthrown by a blow delivered by 

 the armed head of his ferocious-looking adversary. . It is impossible to surmise the 

 result of this conflict, for we may rest assured that one blow will not put the bear 

 hors-de-combat. When he next returns to the charge . the position of the com- 

 batants may be reversed, and terrible will be the struggle for the mastery, between 

 such great and powerful rival monarchs. 



