Holbrook argus., 1907-12-31
A DESPERATE
 BATTLE
Bv IA RY SIN /

among the French half-breeds a good deal, had received from them the French name of Baptiste. He told us the story as we were huddled around a campfire on the eastern side of Lake l Winnipeg, from which we and our dogs had been driven by bitter, binding, blizzard storm. He said:
 One summer, long ago, 1 was with large party of Indians. We were making long journey over the rolling l prairies from one place to another. That we might have plenty of meat to eat, two of us were appointed to keep about two days journey ahead of the company to kill all the game we could.
 "The reason why we kept so far apart was because we had dogs, and babies and women in our party, and. 1 you know, they all make much noise, so they would scare the animals far away.
 Well, we two hunters had kept far ahead. Some days we had good tuck and killed great deal, and then other days we did not kill much. What we got we cached, so that the party could l them when they came along We al ways put it near the trail for them. Then we could push on, looking for more.
 "One day as we had passed several valleys and had seen nothing that was worth our while, we came to the top of pretty large hill and cautiously | looked over. There was a sight that we shall never forget.
 Right down before us, within gun shot, was very large grizzly bear with two big buffalo bulls Well for us the wind was blowing from them to us. They were very very angry look ing and were preparing for big fight. The buffalos seemed to know that the bear was an ugly customer, and he looked as if he did not know how to manage the two of them at once.
 After while both of the bulls sud- denly lowered their heads, and to- gether they charged the bear As ! they rushed at him he quickly rose up on his launches, and as they closed in upon him he seized one of them by the head and neck, and with a sudden jerk so quickly broke his neck that he fell down as dead as a stone.
 The older buffalo, which had charged at the same time, gave the bear fearful thrust with his sharp horns, one of which pierced him be- tween his ribs, causing an ugly wound, from which the blood soon began to flow. The bear, having killed the other buffalo, tried to seize this one also. but he, having given the bear the ugly wound, quickly sprang back out of his reach. He ran off for little distance, but as the bear did not follow he came back again. There they stood looking at each other, both very angry. but both very cautious. As they kept moving around it seemed to us as though the buffalo had so come around on the windward side Of the bear that he caught the scent of blood from the wound. The smell of blood always eXcites to fury these animals, and SO lowering his head, he furiOusly charged at his wounded yet still say age enemy. The bear rose up on his hind quarters to receive him. aud seizing him as he did the other killed him on the spot.
 We saw him go from one buffalo to another and smell them both. but he did not offer to tear or eat either. We could see that he was very badly wounded from the way he kept twitching his side, from which the blood was runniL It was an ugly wound, and he was a very sick bear,