The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-19

inal entrance was left. THIS open.
ing was concealed by little cluster
u young spruce that had sprung up
IN the fallen earth. Yes. old Ephraim
had had every reason to believe that
no one would lind him or break his
sleep, and he Was al the more angry
At the Interruption
The falling tree had made fright.
~snl crash just over hts head. and
even the deep coma In which the
Eri1ly lay VAS abruptly dissolved.
He spranx up, ready 10 fight A
little Eleam 81 sunlight ventur.d
thru the spruce ,hleket. down into
the mouth of the cavern. and lay
like a patch Of gold on the cavern
floor. IL served 10 waken some slight
degree Of interest In the snowy world
without. II might be well 10 look
around moment. At least. before he
lay down to sleep again. At least
he had to scrape more snow over the
osvsrn mouth. And In the meantime
he might be lucky enough 10 find tho
dearvst delight OF his llfe--a good.
smashing. wellmatched fight 10 cool
tho srcwins anger In hts Ereas veins.
Ephrsim was an old bear. used 10
every hunting wife. and his DISPOSE.
ton hadn't improved with years. lie
was the undisputed master Of the
'Seorcst. and he couldn't think % any
particular enemy that he would not
encounter with roar % JOY. As
cften. in the case of the old. his
teeth were rottins away: and the
pain was a dartnE. stabntng devil
IN his gums. Hts little. fierce eyes
burned and smolder~d with wrath.
he rrunted deep IN his throat. and be
pushed o,t savar-iy thru the cavern
NAV. II WAS only step farther
thru the spruce thsckes into the sun
light And at the first glance he
knew that his wish was coming true.
Three figures. two ahreas, and one
behind. came musatpg thru the little
pass where the creek flowed. lie
knew them well enough There were
plenty Of grizzly traditions concerned
with them. He recognized them In
an instant as his hereditary foes
the one breed that had not yet
learned TO give him right OF way on
forms. and something IN their ey-s
srnt shuddrr OF cold TO his heart.
yet he was not In the hurnor 20 give
ground. His nerves were jurpy and
unstrung from the fan OF the tr~e.
his Jaw rark~d him: a turn OF tn.
hair might decide whether he would
merely stand ard let them pass. or
~heth~r he would launch into that
terrible. death dealing charge that
most g-fxziy hunters. sooner or
later. come 20 know. His mental
pvpcesses did not 60 far enough 60
ufsassociste these enemies with tn.
stabbinx foe In his gums. For the
same reason ne blamed them for the
disruption Of his sleep. His ears lay
back and he uttered q deep grovL
There WAS no more magnificent
creature In alt the breadth Of the for
est than this. the grizzly Of the Sci
kirkx- He was old and savage and
wise: but fer an his years.. In thu
highest pinnacle Of bis strength. No
man needed 20 glance twice at him
10 know his glory. No tenderfoot
conid hook AZ him ana Again wonder
why. In the talk round the camp
fire. the tried woodsren always
spoke OF the grizzly with respect
II was true that IN the far CORNERS
OF the earth there were creatures
that could master him The elephant
could crush the life from his mighty
body with the power Of his knees:
Kobaoba the vhino. most snrfy OF
all game. could have pierced his heart
with his horn: perhaps even the Cape
buffaio--that savage. explosive old
gentleman OF African marshes. most
famous for his deadly propensity to
charge on sight--cotiid have given
him a fair battle. But woe 20 the
Hon that should Be- Obliged 10 face
that terrific strength, Even the
.,klger. sinuous and terrfbIe--arrned
kjfb fangs like cruel knives and
fkadfuf. rakinR. rendinx claws
eouid not have faced him In a fair
ighs
But these were folk Of the tropics,
Ind his superiority was unquestioned
nnong the northern animals. Even
he bull moose had no wish 10 en-
Bnge In q stand up-and-take. close