Year: 1871

terrific roar caught his ear. and he knew
at once that some appalling danger was
at hand. Turning his head, he saw two
immense grizzly bears coming toward
him at full speed.


They appeared to be fairly wild with
savage hunger-their red mouths open,
and their white teeth glittering, as they
| contemplated the dainty supper before
them. Now and then they gave utter
ance to muttering growls as they adj
vanced rapidly with their long swinging
gallop-awkward in itself, but capable
of great speed whenever the monsters
choose to exert themselves.
At such time hesitation would have
| been death The bears were not seeking
the elk, but the hunter and they were
after him with vengeance, too.


His rifle was empty, and there was no
time to reload it. Had he but the bull
let in its place, he could have slain the
foremost without difficulty; but his rifle
was now useless for that purpose.


For one second he thought of club
bing it, and making desperate fight +;
| but Kit Carson was too old q hunter to
commit suicide in that manner, and he
held the thought but an instant.
The only prospect of safety was in his
heels; and, throwing aside his rifle, he
made for the nearest trees at the top of
his speed, not pausing to glance at the
brutes that he knew were close behind


Kit Carson, although short in stature,
was remarkably active, and he bounded
over the ground with the speed of the
terrified elk, who were dashing away
over the plains with the swiftness OF the
wind.


Never had he sped SO rapidly, for he
was running for life, the greatest stake
which ever yet tempted a contestant
for prize.


Fortunately the distance was not
great, and, a moment later, he thun-
dered beneath the nearest tree, and
reaching up, he caught the lower limb
in one hand, swung his body over it,
and scrambled to the top with the
agility of monkey.


But the hunter was not yet safe.
Bears climb trees, and they frequently
do it far better than men. He knew
we'll enough that they would not yield
their coveted prize in this manner, but
would Immediately follow him.


AS soon, therefore, as he had attained
an altitude Of about dozen feet, he
drew his knife, and began cutting at a
large limb. He labored with desperate
earnestness, for all now depended upon
that.


In O. few seconds he had cut it half
off, and quickly replacing his knife, he
grasped the limb in both hands, gave it
nowerf1I wrench. and twisted it clear
of the body.


Just at this juncture the bears were
beneath the tree, and the next moment
one of them began the ascent. Carson
seized the limb in a firm grasp, and
placed himself in the best position he
could secure to dispute the matter with
them.


There is y popularity about grizzly
bears, and, in fact, about all OF the vari-
Gus species, which, perhaps is not gener-
ally known. Their noses are very
sensitive, and they are more susceptible
to stinging pain on that organ than
upon any other part of the body.


Kit Carson was we'll aware of this,
and the instant the foremost bear came
within reach, he dealt him a tremen-
dous whack upon the snout. The brute
shook his head, blinked, but held his
ground. The next second more power
full blow was given him, and bewlldered
with pain, he beat hasty retreat to the
earth, until he could recover.


The other bear, however, had not yet
mingled in the fight, but Immediately
did so.


AS he came scrambling up, Carson,
waited until he was in the proper posi-
tion, when he gave him a half-dozen
blows with the quickness of lightning,
and with all the great strength that he
could summon into his muscular arms.


This was altogether more than bruin
expected, and more than he could stand.
He was so confounded and panied that he
tumbled to the ground in great heap ;
but neither of them was disposed to
give up the contest as yet.


It being the fall of the year, both of
the grizzlies were quite fat. This, un-
doubtedly, made them clumsy and awk-
ward in their movements, and gave the
hunter additional advantage.


Had it been during the spring of the
year, these animals always are lean and
active, it cannot be supposed that the



a successful resistance. If they had not
succeeded in overtaking him before he
reached the tree, they would have crow
ded him so fast that he could not have
made anything like an advantageous
fight against them.


By the time the second bear was upon
the ground, the first was climbing the
tree again, roaring and growing with
rage and pain, while his fierce eyes were
fixed upon the audacious hunter in q
manner which showed that he had no
disposition to yield the battle to an un-
armed man like him.


The tree was quite small, and Carson
found himself driven to the very top
most boughs. Here, as he could retreat
no further, he firmly braced himself,
and awaited their onset.


He was not kept long in waiting. The
tree bent under the weight of the colos-
sal monster; but he pressed forward
until he could almost touch the feet of
the hunter with his claws. At this
iuncture number of blows were again
rained upon his nose, with such power
and effect that the brute, as before, re-
linquished his hold, and retired to the
ground.


The bears now took a tempor ary
breathing spell, during which their
growing screaches made the solitude
hideous, while the valiant hunter pre-
pared himself, as best he could, for
another assault from his enemies.


The next time, the two assembled al
most together; but by this time Carson
had warmed up to his work, and he
again dealt his blows with such energy
that one of them was seen to lachry-
mate and to. give such evidence of pain,