Iron County register., 1898-11-24
"Get outl" exclaimed the captain, in

y
weren't with you"
That's maybe So" responded the
guide. "But I'm uster taLin' sich risks
an you amt. I sh'd go ON the warpath
fer Ole Ephr'am if I was erione an
clean him out-'r git cleaned out my
self-before undertook to do anything
else.'
whats the matter with letting the
grizzly alone as long as he lets us
alone?" demanded the lieutenant, who
was less anxious to meet the formid-
able creature than his brother officer.
'Ya'as, but yer can't do that erway
with Ole Ephr'am. If We don't hunt
him he's sure ter hunt you. If let
you youngsters go footin' round this
yere valley, careless like, that old res
kim IL be sure ter strike yer trail an
gobble ye up"
you've got a pretty poor opinion of
our sense and ability to shoot" said
Langdon, in disgust.
''They amt got nothin' ter do with
it," declared Hank. "Ole Ephr'am I'll
give the best shot It ever drew a bead
tn everlastin' tremblin' ague when he
lights onter him for the first time. But
if we stay here that critters got to be
killed." concluded Hank, decidedly.
''Then let's all have a whack at It,"
said Capt. Langdon. mo use in your
hogging all the glory yourself"
"Glory!" snorted Hank. Its jest
like one o. them blood-feuds in Mis-
souri, where come from. It's a case
o. kill r git killed, an there amt much
glory to that, reckon"
So they took their heaviest guns the
next morning and left camp in search
of Old Ephrian. Hank led them up
the stream to the spot where he had
seen the grizzly's tracks the day be-
fore. There they were, like big, broad
human foot-prints-the biggest track
either of the army officers had ever
SEEN They began at once to have a
larger respect for their enemy they
had set out SO light heartedly to kill.
"He must be as big as a bullock"
declared young Chester.
"He's bigger'n the biggest OK ever
you see," Hank replied. I'm a-bettin'
it's an ole male, an a bouncer at that.
Lucky faint she with cubs"
Maybe his mate is here somewhere,
too" suggested Langdon.
"Wa-al, We'll hev chance enough ter
learn" responded Hank, quietly.
They pushed across the valley and
just at the edge of the scrub growth
which fringed the low ground found a
deer, half fayed and still warm. Here
yesterdays tracks were crossed and
recrossed by fresher ones. 1t was evil
dent the grizzly had returned to the
valley for his breakfast and, after max
ing his kill and devouring such as he
cared for, had gone back into the hills.
He had left the spot but shortly before
the hunters appearance, for the scent
of the warm blood had not yet drawn
the wolves.
Gentlemen, Ole Ephr'am is near by"
declared the guide. 1--WE shall letch up
with him mighty sudden. If the
ground allows I want We sh'd spread
out, one on each side o me-that'n con-
fuse him-an' jest pump lead for all
ye're wuth. That's the only way ter
kill a grizzly-load him down with SO
much lead t he can't carry it,"
The trail, plain and broad, took the
party along the edge of the scrub and
at length turned up a broad-mounted
gully in the hillside. The gully was
heavily wooded and rapidly narrowed
as they pressed on.
"a bad place." muttered Hank, and
he led the way all too slowly for the
impatient young officers.
Hurry up, Hank!" begged Lieut..
Chester. We'll never bag the brute"
"Wa-al, eff we hurry he's likely to
bag u.s." responded the gride, drawl-
ingly "Thar! Dye see that?"
"What?"
"That bush moved! He's behind that
windfall-sure's shootin'. I kalkerlate
he's got his eye on US, too"
"What1l we do-crawl up behind
him?"
"Crawl up-nothin'!" returned the
guide. "Never see the man yet could
crawl up behind q grizzly on the watch.
Keep still an walk right on as though
we didn't notice nothin'. Then, when
he springs out, let drive"
''But that's dangcrous!" gasped Ches-
ter.
"Of course it is. / told you fellows
to keep out of it. It's the only way to
kill grizzly. Ye can't stalk one"
They did not stop walking while this
conversation was in progress and in a
moment were almost abreast of the
windfall.
''NowI" hissed Hank.
As though at his word there was a
crash in the brush and the grizzly burst
through! The instant he was over the
windfall the beast stood up and the
faces of the young officers blanched
when they saw its proportions. 1t was
head and shoulders taller above Bor-
rows, and he was no pygmy.
The name of rusty fur along the crea-
lures neck stood up stiffiy; his little
pig-like eyes snapped savagely and
the foam few from his open mouth.
With a roar that shook the rocky hill
sides the grizzly approached. beating
the air like the arms of windmill with
his huge paws.
The instant he appeared Hank be-
gan to fire. His heavy rifle spit fire
almost continuously, and the thud of
the bullets as they struck the grizzly's
body was plainly audible. The guide
had fired six or seven times before
either of his companions got their
weapons unlimbered.
The great brute could not withstand
the storm of bullets for long. His
mouth fairly spouted blood, showing
that his lungs had been perforated, and
glaring patches of gore appeared upon
his breast. A bullet from Hanks rifle