ENCOUNTER WITH A URIZZLY. 1538 
endeavoring to ascertain how high he could reach. I had 
not a clear shot, for, although my quarry was facing me, 
the trunk of the deceased monarch of the woodlands was 
between me and him.- From my foe’s manner, I felt con- 
vinced that he was unaware of my presence; this I could 
have turned to advantage had a vital part been exposed. 
Long I stood in my awkward position, hoping that he 
would slew himself round; but such a movement seemed 
foreign to his intention. At length the grizzly lowered his 
hold of the tree till his fore-paws were beneath the level of 
his head, when, turning to the left, he rested the jaw upon 
his foot, at the same moment obtaining the first view of me. 
Not a muscle of the bear’s body moved, while the small 
pig-like eyes momentarily increased in the glow of their in- 
tensity. In that gaze there was no mistake; it clearly 
said, “I will brook no intruder in my demesne, and the life 
of him who is guilty of it shall pay the penalty.” 
It was a fool-hardy: or precipitous course to pursue. I 
would not do it now, no, nor even then, if starvation had 
not stared me in the face. I raised my gun and took sight, 
hoping the ball would penetrate the neck near the junction 
of the head; but my eye and hand failed me; the bullet 
glanced off the weather-beaten tree-trunk, smashed a paw,. 
ultimately glancing through the thick skin at the base of 
the quarry’s ear. My foe fell, but in a moment after was 
on his legs, and;-before I had time to think, came at me 
with headlong speed. His lower jaw interfered with the 
breast-shot, for his mouth was wide open: still I fired, for. 
I felt that only an instant existed between my being in 
his grasp; but the result was only a momentary recoil. I 
raised my gun to save my head; but it was sent flying into 
the brush, and I was prostrated. My sheath-knife, how- 
ever, was at hand. One, two, three stabs, a spasmodic 
gasp and shudder of frame, and the gounded monster, try- 
Vie 
