Evening star., 1928-04-01
shows Strategy in Contest Which Taxes Brains of Foes

shakes on the roof. Strange to say. I
was not afraid-why, cannot tell; but
all I realized at the moment was that
there stood the brute who had robbed
me and caused so much trouble.
My chance had come, I told myself;
Mr.. Bruin had made one trip too many
wheeling round. sprang back through
cabin, and then raised my rife and
waited.
WITH uncanny instinct the bear
seemed to realize his danger, for
he ambied round the inside of the
cabin, knocking over the pots and pans
which lay scattered on the floor. He
growled angrily from time TO time. but
apparently hesitated to come out and
face me. ->s
While he was parading round the
cabin saw his huge back passing by
the window, which had been torn bodily
out. Picking up large stone. threw
Il with all my might, striking him on
the back. He gave loud roar, turned
round and shot out Of the cabin like
bullet, his piglike eyes glued on me-
When he was half way through the
door fired at him. It was good shot
passing. as discovered later, through
the right front shoulder and on through
the heart.
The jar Of the bullet seemed to knock
him of his feet, for he went down in
q heap. I hastily attempted to pump
another shell out Of the magazine into
the breech, but TO my CONSERVATION the
cartridge jammed! I tried In vain to
release It with my fingers, and then
reached for my hunting knife to pry it
| out. However. had not time TO use 1t,
for the grizzly scrambled to his feet and
charged straight for me. Leaping aside,
I raced for the bank behind the bunk
| house. r
Reaching 1t. leaped on TO the roof.
| which I gained just a split second
ahead Of the bear. In the meantime /
had managed to pry out the iammed
| cartridge. The four shells left in the
| magazine were also stuck. but fortu-
nately my belt was fun of others
| Snatching one out, l. slipped it into the
breech and fired without aiming.
| so close was the bear that I could
| have touched him with the end Of the
| gun. This time the bullet hit him in
the left shoulder and wenS through the
| lungs.
The shock knocked him over again.
and he rolled OF the roof. I immedi-
ately slipped another shell into the
breech, In case Of emergency.
] uc OcaI tOSc 70 his Ieet again, ano
| without so much as whimper started
running down the trail, stumbling at
intervals. owing to his injuries It
| seemed incredible that ne could have
survived. but did not want to lose him,
for he had magnificent pelt; and I
was IN the act Of putting another
bullet into him when he suddenly coll
lapsed In the trail. I believe he was
dead before he fell.
Climbing down, cautiously ap-
preached him. Standing over my
PROSTATE foe. I could almost forgive
him for all the destruction he had
wrought, in admiration for his game
ness.
I skinned the grizzly where he Law.
using long poles TO turn him over
His weight. judge. must have been
wei over 500 pounds. The head and
feet left on the skin, to dress at my
leisure on board the steamer on my
way hcme.
Next day the captain Of the steam
er taped the bears head From ear
TO ear 1t measured twenty-one and
half inchesl The pelt proved to be
the largest ever seen In the district.
And thus ended the career Of the
worst four-footed camp-thief I have
ever encountered-a bear with a brain.
II there ever was oneI
| fcopyriRht. 1881