390 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
him again over the head, just as though it was 
his fault that the ^ mother was knocked over. Jem 
had reloaded, so he put a bullet through this young 
fellow ; and then putting in another cartridge, he 
floored the third, and they were all dead in less 
than a minute. It’s a fine rifle is that Martini- 
Henry, but I think you’ll be displeased, as we 
had no business to go nigh the place; it ain’t my 
fault, and I wouldn’t have done it myself, you may 
be sure.” 
This was a glorious triumph for the jealous Jem 
Bourne, who was highly offended at my having 
adopted the advice, and sought the assistance of 
Bob Stewart, to “jump a bear.” We had returned 
as failures, and he had killed three bears with my 
rifle, within my sanctuary, which I had specially 
arranged for a visit upon the following day. He 
declared “ that nobody should stop him from killing 
bears, as his right was just as good as mine.” 
This poaching upon my preserves was rather too 
much for my patience, therefore without any 
discussion or angry words I gave him a note to 
carry 42 miles’ distance on the following morning, 
to a friend of mine at the second ranche. “What 
horse shall I ride ? ” asked the fellow sullenly. 
“ The white mule,” I replied. “ When am I to 
come back?”—“Not till I send for you,” was the 
answer; and Jem Bourne ceased to be a member of 
our party. 
This was an excellent example, as many of these 
people are exceedingly independent, and although 
