374 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
just drying myself, after the operation of washing, 
when I heard an excited voice shout “Bears! 
bears! ” It was useless for me to ask questions 
through the canvas, therefore I hurried on my 
clothes and ran out. 
Texas Bill was gone. It appeared that two 
large bears had been seen as they came along the 
glen, and turned up the open slope, by which we 
had descended after shooting the sage-hens. My 
best horse had not been unsaddled, as the evening 
was chilly; therefore Texas Bill had immediately 
jumped into the saddle, and was off in full pursuit. 
“ What rifle did he take ? ” I inquired of little 
Henry. “ He didn’t take any rifle, but he’s got his 
six-shooter, which is much better in his hands, as he 
knows it,” was the reply. 
There was very little light remaining, and with 
the long start which the bears obtained, I could not 
think that Bill would have the slightest chance of 
overhauling them before they reached the forest; 
this they would assuredly attempt, the instant they 
saw themselves pursued. If Bill could only get 
them upon the open plateau on the summit, he might 
be able to manage them, but with a gallop up a 
steep hill to commence with, in the late dusk of 
evening, the odds were decidedly against him. 
It became dark, and we expected Bill’s return 
every minute. Jem Bourne, my head man, who was 
always a grumbler, and exceedingly jealous, began 
to ventilate his feelings. “ A pretty fool he’s made 
of himself to go galloping after bears in a dark night. 
