The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-01-21
A Ihree-Cornered Combat.

]
Cat, Bitter Sweet and other creeks down
! toward the Bitter Root Mountains.
| had jouneyed to the forks of the
Upper Salmon with band Of hunters
and trappers, and, while they had spent
the winter in trapping for furs and belts,
l had developed the fact that coal, mica,
slate, marble, copper, and other minerals
were to be had for the asking in the
mountains. Owing to the depth of snow
and severity of the weather, l had not fin
ished my work ofprospccting when spring
came, while the trappers were ready to
abandon the exhausted field and move
east into the foothills of the Bitter Root.
On the first day of May was left alone
had horse, two pack mules, rifle,
two rcvolvcrs, and plenty of food and
ammunition. As soon as the men left
me pulled up stakes and moved around
to the east side Of the mountain, where
there was less wind and more sunshine.
Between the foothills and the mountain
was long, narrow, winding valley, vary
ing in with from ten to fifty feet. The
snow was just leaving this valley, and
the grass of last season had been preserved
in palatable shape for the horses.
Nothing Of special interest occurred
until the Sd of June. On that morning,
while cooking breakfast, a 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. l was between
him and the horses, but the latter were
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, l
did not wish to provoke him by any act
of hospitility. He was in lean condition,
Mth hi 59nHGPy 9snHBy stared ia at m6 Witt
curious eyes, shifted the air, grew uneasy
after q few minutes, and finally numbered
off down the valley out Of sight. was
thoroughly glad to be rid of Bruin, but
before l had finished my breakfast he re-
turned and brought tw eShcr grizzlies
with him, all full grown.
Well armed as | was, Ircalizcd that I
stood no show ag7iust the three. The
horse was wilG with terror, and the mules
were so overcome that they lay down
with weakness. Ipilcd on the brush,
and as the fire blazcd and cracked the
bears took alarm and galloped off, look
ing back as if to see if they were pur-
sued.
The presence Of these monsters annoyed
me more than I can explain. | was more
uneasy than as if | had discovered three
Indians prowling about. A grizzly bcal
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 a Winches
ter into him and not one may strike ;
vital spot. The sight of flame and smoke
had kept them from attacking me, but
was by no means satisfied that they woulC
abandon the field.
The only plan to save the horses was t.
build another fire above them. In on
spot the valley narrowed until it was no
more than eight feet wide, and here
built a solid fire of heavy limbs-on
which would last for whole day. 4
quarter of a mile below the camp fount
another good sept, and built another fire
and then felt comparatively safe. TIL
only fear was that | would keep the bear
away to bring Indians down upon me
The heavy smoke could be seen for TWEEN
ty miles, and if seen by red men the
would certainly investigate.
did not leave camp that day, bein
busy with specimens and in making re
pairs to my clothing, and the day an
night passed without an alarm of an
sort. This put me in good spirits, and
permitted the fires to die down to gres
beds of Goals, which would retain the
heat all day, and soon after breakfa'
shouldered my rifle and started off dow
the valley to prospect and investigate
You may believe that kept my ey,
open for sight of grizzlies, but the
: seemed to have left the neighborhood ft
: good.
r At the end of about five miles the va
ley suddenly broadened or debouche
. into another. This larger valley opene
= in from the broad plains and was mi
. long. had no sooner rounded a mass
rock and earth and brought the larg
S valley into view than my ears were gree
s ed with a terrible yell. Right before m
: and not over quarter of mile ava
were seven or eight Indians sarroundii
t a small camp fire, with their ponies gra
ing near by.
: At such a time as that men think al
u act quickly. If ran back UP the vail
a such action would uncover my camp al
It lose my animals. There was no place
n hand to make a successful defence, wi
d the odds so much against me. As t
y Indians sprang to their feet turned
s the right and dashed into ravine OPT
g ing into the mountain itself. There V
d a stream running down it from the me
o ing snow, bat presently found fan
beaten path running along uD the rayi