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packing cinch。 My cartridges and knife were in my belt； my compass and
matches； as always； in my pocket。 I walked； while the little mare
followed almost like a dog； often without my having to hold the lariat
which served as halter。
The country was for the most part fairly open； as I kept near the
foot…hills where glades and little prairies broke the pine forest。 The
trees were of small size。 There was no regular trail； but the course
was easy to keep； and I had no trouble of any kind save on the second
day。 That afternoon I was following a stream which at last 〃canyoned
up；〃 that is sank to the bottom of a canyon…like ravine impossible for
a horse。 I started up a side valley； intending to cross from its head
coulies to those of another valley which would lead in below the
canyon。
However； I got enmeshed in the tangle of winding valleys at the foot
of the steep mountains； and as dusk was coming on I halted and camped
in a little open spot by the side of a small； noisy brook； with
crystal water。 The place was carpeted with soft； wet； green moss；
dotted red with the kinnikinnic berries； and at its edge； under the
trees where the ground was dry； I threw down the buffalo bed on a mat
of sweet…smelling pine needles。 Making camp took but a moment。 I
opened the pack； tossed the bedding on a smooth spot； knee…haltered
the little mare； dragged up a few dry logs； and then strolled off；
rifle on shoulder； through the frosty gloaming； to see if I could pick
up a grouse for supper。
For half a mile I walked quickly and silently over the pine needles；
across a succession of slight ridges separated by narrow； shallow
valleys。 The forest here was composed of lodge…pole pines； which on
the ridges grew close together； with tall slender trunks； while in the
valleys the growth was more open。 Though the sun was behind the
mountains there was yet plenty of light by which to shoot； but it was
fading rapidly。
At last； as I was thinking of turning towards camp； I stole up to the
crest of one of the ridges； and looked over into the valley some sixty
yards off。 Immediately I caught the loom of some large； dark object；
and another glance showed me a big grisly walking slowly off with his
head down。 He was quartering to me； and I fired into his flank； the
bullet； as I afterwards found； ranging forward and piercing one lung。
At the shot he uttered a loud； moaning grunt and plunged forward at a
heavy gallop； while I raced obliquely down the hill to cut him off。
After going a few hundred feet he reached a laurel thicket； some
thirty yards broad； and two or three times as long which he did not
leave。 I ran up to the edge and there halted； not liking to venture
into the mass of twisted； close…growing stems and glossy foliage。
Moreover； as I halted； I head him utter a peculiar； savage kind of
whine from the heart of the brush。 Accordingly； I began to skirt the
edge； standing on tiptoe and gazing earnestly to see if I could not
catch a glimpse of his hide。 When I was at the narrowest part of the
thicket； he suddenly left it directly opposite； and then wheeled and
stood broadside to me on the hill…side； a little above。 He turned his
head stiffly towards me； scarlet strings of froth hung from his lips；
his eyes burned like embers in the gloom。
I held true； aiming behind the shoulder； and my bullet shattered the
point or lower end of his heart； taking out a big nick。 Instantly the
great bear turned with a harsh roar of fury and challenge； blowing the
blood foam from his mouth； so that I saw the gleam of his white fangs；
and then he charged straight at me； crashing and bounding through the
laurel bushes； so that it was hard to aim。 I waited until he came to a
fallen tree； raking him as he topped it with a ball； which entered his
chest and went through the cavity of his body； but he neither swerved
nor flinched； and at the moment I did not know that I had struck him。
He came steadily on； and in another second was almost upon me。 I fired
for his forehead； but my bullet went low； entering his open mouth；
smashing his lower jaw and going into the neck。 I leaped to one side
almost as I pulled trigger； and through the hanging smoke the first
thing I saw was his paw as he made a vicious side blow at me。 The rush
of his charge carried him past。 As he struck he lurched forward；
leaving a pool of bright blood where his muzzle hit the ground； but he
recovered himself and made two or three jumps onwards； while I
hurriedly jammed a couple of cartridges into the magazine； my rifle
holding only four； all of which I had fired。 Then he tried to pull up；
but as he did so his muscles seemed suddenly to give way； his head
drooped； and he rolled over and over like a shot rabbit。 Each of my
first three bullets had inflicted a mortal wound。
It was already twilight； and I merely opened the carcass； and then
trotted back to camp。 Next morning I returned and with much labor took
off the skin。 The fur was very fine； the animal being in excellent
trim； and unusually bright…colored。 Unfortunately； in packing it out I
lost the skull； and had to supply its place with one of plaster。 The
beauty of the trophy； and the memory of the circumstances under which
I procured it； make me value it perhaps more highly than any other in
my house。
This is the only instance in which I have been regularly charged by a
grisly。 On the whole； the danger of hunting these great bears has been
much exaggerated。 At the beginning of the present century； when white
hunters first encountered the grisly； he was doubtless an exceedingly
savage beast； prone to attack without provocation； and a redoubtable
foe to persons armed with the clumsy； small…bore muzzle…loading rifles
of the day。 But at present bitter experience has taught him caution。
He has been hunted for the bounty； and hunted as a dangerous enemy to
stock； until； save in the very wildest districts； he has learned to be
more wary than a deer and to avoid man's presence almost as carefully
as the most timid kind of game。 Except in rare cases he will not
attack of his own accord； and； as a rule； even when wounded his object
is escape rather than battle。
Still； when fairly brought to bay； or when moved by a sudden fit of
ungovernable anger； the grisly is beyond peradventure a very dangerous
antagonist。 The first shot； if taken at a bear a good distance off and
previously unwounded and unharried； is not usually fraught with much
danger； the startled animal being at the outset bent merely on flight。
It is always hazardous； however； to track a wounded and worried grisly
into thick cover； and the man who habitually follows and kills this
chief of American game in dense timber； never abandoning the bloody
trail whithersoever it leads； must show no small degree of skill and
hardihood； and must not too closely count the risk to life or limb。
Bears differ widely in temper； and occasionally one may be found who
will not show fight； no matter how much he is bullied； but； as a rule；
a hunter must be cautious in meddling with a wounded animal which has
retreated into a dense thicket； and had been once or twice roused； and
such a beast； when it does turn； will usually charge again and again；
and fight to the last with unconquerable ferocity。 The short distance
at which the bear can be seen through the underbrush； the fury of his
charge； and his tenacity of life make it necessary for the hunter on
such occasions to have steady nerves and a fairly quick and accurate
aim。 It is always well to have two men in following a wounded bear
under such conditions。 This is not necessary； however； and a good
hunter； rather than lose his quarry； will； under ordinary
circumstances； follow and attack it； no matter how tangled the
fastness in which it has sought refuge； but he must act warily and
with the utmost caution and resolution； if he wishes to escape a
terrible and probably fatal mauling。 An experienced hunter is rarely
rash； and never heedless； he will not； when alone； follow a wounded
bear into a thicket； if by that exercise of patience； skill； and
knowledge of the game's habits he can avoid the necessity； but it is
idle to talk of the feat as something which ought in no case to be
attempted。 While danger ought never to be needlessly incurred； it is
yet true that the keenest zest in sport comes from its presence； and
from the consequent exercise of the qualities necessary to overcome
it。 The most thrilling moments of an American hunter's life are those
in which； with every sense on the alert； and with nerves strung to the
highest point； he is following alone into the heart of its forest
fastness the fresh and bloody footprints of an angered grisly； and no
other triumph of American hunting can compare with the victory to be
thus gained。
These big bears will not ordinarily charge from a distance of over a
hundred yards； but there are exceptions to this rule。 In the fall of
1890 my friend Archibald Rogers was hunting in Wyoming； south of the
Yellowstone Park； and killed seven bears。 One； an old he； was out on a
bare table…land； grubbing for roots； when he was spied。 It was early
in the afternoon； and the hunters； who were on a high mountain slope；
ex