Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-01-20
A Three-Cornered Combat,

Cat, Bitter Sweet and other creeks dow
toward the Bitter Root Mountains.
had journcycd to the forks of tn
Upper Salmon with a band Of hunter
and trappers, and, while they had spcn
the winter in trapping for furs and belts
had developed the fact that coal, mica
slate, marble, copper, and other mineral
were to be had for the asking in tn,
mountains. Owing to the depth of snow
and severity of the weather, | had not fin
ishcd my work of prospecting when spring
came, while the trappcrs were ready tC
abandon the exhausted field and move
east into the foothills Of the Bitter Root
On the first day of May was left alone
had u horse, two pack mules, a rife
two rcvolvcrs, and plenty of food anc
ammunition. As soon as the men lcf
me pulled up stakes and moved around
to the cast side of the mountain, where
there was less wind and more sunshine
Between the foothills and the mountain
was a long, narrow, winding valley, vary
ing in with from ten to fifty feet. Th'
snow was just leaving this valley, anC
the grass of last season had been preserved
in palatablc shape for the horses.
Nothing Of special interest occurred
until the Sd of June. On that morning
while cooking breakfast, monster
grizzly, the first one seen during the win
ter, suddenly appeared within 200 feet Of
my camp fire, coming up the winding
valley from the south. | was bctwccl
him and the horses, but the latter wcrt
so terrified that had they not been stout
ly staked out they would have made
their escape.
The bear halted, as I said, and as he
displayed no intention to come nearer,
did not wish to provoke him by any act
of hospitility. He was in lean condition,
with his shaggy coat in anything but
prcsentablc shape. He stared at me with
curious eyes, smiled the air, grew uneasy
after few minutes, and finally Numbered
off down the valley out of sight. was
thoroughly glad to be rid of Bruin, but
before / had finished my breakfast he re.
turned and brought tw shcr grizzlies
with him, all full grown.
Well armed rs was, 7 realized that
stood no show ayT.nst the three. The
horse was wiS With terror, and the mules
were 50 overcome that they lay down
with weakness. l piled on the brush,
and as the fire blazcd and crackled the
bears took alarm and gallopcd off, look
ing back as if to see if they were pur-
sued.
The presence of these monsters annoyed
me more than | can explain. was more
uneasy than as if had discovered three
Indians prowling about. A grizzly bear
is the natural foe of everything that lives.
He is without fear. His strength is
something astounding. He will fight
twenty men as soon as one. Fire all the
bullets from the chamber of Winchcs-
ter into him and not one may strike a
vital spot. The sight of flame and smoke
had kept them from attacking me, but
was by no means satisfied that they would
abandon the field.
The only plan to save the horses was to
build another fire above them. In one
spot the valley narrowed until it was not
more than eight feet wide, and here |
built a solid fire of heavy limbs-onc
which would last for a whole day. A
quarter of mile below the camp found
another good sept, and built another fire,
and then felt comparatively safe. The
only fear was that | would keep the bears
away to bring Indians down upon me.
The heavy smoke could be seen for TWEEN
ty miles, and if seen by red men they
would certainly investigate.
did not leave camp that day, being
busy with specimens and in making re-
pairs to my clothing, and the day and
night passed without an alarm of any
sort. This put me in good spirits, and
permitted the fires to die down to great
beds of Goals, which would retain thcil
heat all day, and soon after breakfast
shouldered my rifle and started off down
the valley to prospect and investigate.
You may believe that kept my eye,
open for sight of grizzlies, but they
seemed to have left the ncighborhood fol
good.
AT the end of about five miles the val
ley suddenly broadcncd Or dcbouchcd
into another. This larger valley opened
in from the broad plains, and was mile
long. Ihad no sooner rounded mass OF
rock and earth and brought the larger
valley into view than my ears were greet.
ed with terrible yell. Right before me,
and not over quarter of n mile away,
were seven or eight Indians surrounding
small camp fire, with their ponies graz
ing near by.
At such a time as that men think and
act quickly. If ran back up the valley
such action would uncover my camp and
lose my animals. There was no place at
hand to make successful defence, with
the odds so much against me. As the
Indians sprang to their feet | turned tc
the right and dashed into ravine open
ing into the mountain itself. There wa:
a stream running down it from the melt
ing snow, but presently found fairl!
beaten path running along up the ravipc