Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-13

ened, for | knew the bear would kill me unless
L could shoot him first.
He did not give me any time to think, for
the savage monster rushed at me with all his
might, and before l could defend myself, struck
me with his huge paw terrible blow, which
knocked me senseless, and fell fat on the
ground
| don't know how long lay there; for
when L opened my eyes Bruin was sIRellins
about my face and ears and even rolled me
over on the ground with his paw.
You know a bear will never hurt or eat any
body who is dead or looks to be dead, and, as
knew this, lay still, and let him tumble and
roll me about as much as he pleased. 1t was
a good thing he knocked me down at first, for,
If had fought him, the old rascal would have
killed me sure enough in the beginning of the
tight; so l did not move, and tried not to
breathe.
After awhile the shaggy fellow got tired,
went off little ways to the left, sat down on
his launches, and eyed me suspiciously. Every
Jew minutes he would come over to where
was smell my hair and face and try to tear
my clothes off with his long nails
Once he scratched so hard that it brought
the blood but he licked it off with his rough,
red tongue, seeming to be very much surprised
at the color of it. He went back and sat down
again, still keeping his hungrylooking eyes up
on me.
This must have lasted for half an hour or
more, and l. grew very tired of my cramped
poSlllOui duU JuTueu my neeiu W see
what he was doing. The bear saw me move,
and in a moment came bounding toward me,
full OF rage, and then thought my time had
come.
Just as he was about to strike me again with
his great paw, rife rang out on the air, and
came, and then another, and the big fellow
fell over on his side, and died in a few nnp-
utes.
Jumping to my feet l looked around, and
Il.
rock, with the smoking rife still in his hands,
and then l knew it was he who had saved my
life
"Hurrah!" I cried; "hurrah! hurrah! hur-
rah! Good boy, Steve!"
And. running over to where he was.
ciasped my brother in my arms, and wept
Dear boy! He had, indeed, saved me from
a horrible death. and l was glad, after all.
that he had come with US on the trip. Steve
told me in a few words how he happened TO
be so near when l needed him most.
Following me as well as he could, he had
lost his way, and wandered about the canyon
until growl was heard.
Crawling carefully on his hands and knees
to the edge of rock, he saw a great black
bear standing over my body, and thought
was dead.
Not letting the beast see him, he hid be-
hind the rock and quickly loaded his gun with
six cartridges; and when the bear was not
looking Cne UrdVe DOy feSCeu MS ilHt On
corner of the stone, took steady aim and pull
ed the trigger.
Hearing the bear howl, he was not afraid
but fired again and again, until he saw the
savage animal fall headlong to. the ground.
and then he came out and stood up to see il
l was still living.
Joyfully we returned to camp, carrying the
Sleeps horns and the bears claws, and relat
ed our wonderful experience to our COM
panions; but General Miles told us we nel-r
should have gone into the Black Canyon, as il
was famous place for bears and other wild
animals, too.
When we got back to the fort, Steve and
I sent the horns and claws home to mother
who was very much frightened at frst; but
when she read the letter telling how, her
twelve-year-old son had killed very large
grizzly bear all by himself and saved his big
brothers life in the bargain, she was very
proud, indeed. of her boy, and was not afraid
to trust him alone, as he had proved himself
able and brave enough to take care of himself
even in the greatest danger.