Year: 1871

gave his horse in charge of one of the
men,


whats up now? ?" inquired the
, latter.


I'm tired of riding, and want a
little exercise on foot"


'fGoing on hunt %


"That's my intention"
"When shall we look for your re-
turn ?"


Carson glanced up TO the sky, so as
! to make sure of the time of day, and
then answered:


eff nothing happens, Issiishall bring
you your supper in time"
With these words he swung his
rifle over his shoulder, and started off
on his eventful hunt.


He walked briskly along for about
a mile, when he came upon the fresh
tracks of some elk. Following the
trail for about half that distance fur
ther, he caught sight of the game
grazing on the side of hill. AS it is
an extremely difficult task to approach
these timid animals, Carson made q
careful survey of the natural surround
ings to see what help he could gain
| from them.


Within short distance of him were
some diminutive scrubby pine trees,
toward which he began creeping on
his hands and knees. Considerable
time was occupied in reaching them,
but he succeeded at last, and found
that he had the game within easy
range of his death dealing rifle.


Upon raising the hammer Of his
rifle to fire, he found that he had not
yet gained the exact spot he was seek
ing, and he resumed his creeping over
the ground; but had moved but few
steps when he saw that the wary ami
mails had scented danger.


They were standing with raised
heads, looking directly toward him,
and, although he kept his body invis
iblc, yet he knew that he could not
deceive the extraordinary delicacy of
their olfactories. immediately after,
they began moving slowly away.
This action on the part of the elk
or the antelope is always preliminary
to leap and faster run; and without
waiting for this, Carson quickly ran
his eye along the barrel Of his rifle,
and pulled the trigger.


The largest and fattest of the game
made a frienzied bound in the air and
fell dead in his tracks; while Carson,
drawing his knife, dashed forward, in
tending to secure the choicest bits for
the supper of himself and friends.


Ere lie reached the prize, however,
terrific roar caught his ear, and he
knew at once that some appalling dan
ger 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 meal
before them. Now and then they
gave utterance- to muttering growls as
they advanced rapidly with their long
swinging gallop-awkward in itself,
but capable of great speed whenever
the monsters choose to exert them
selves.


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
bullet in its place, he could have kill
ed 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 a 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 to
be close behind.


Kit Carson, although short in stat
ure, was remarkably active, and he
bounded over the ground with the
speed of the terrified elk, which 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 that ever yet tempted Il contest
ant for prize.


Fortunately the distance was not
great, and, q moment later, he thun-
dered beneath the nearest tree, and,
reaching up, he caught the lower limb
with one hand, swung his body over
it, and scrambled to the top with the
agility of a monkey.
Er,f ha
Bears climb trees, and they frequently
do it far better than men. He knew
well enough that they would not yield
their coveted prize in this manner, but
would Immediately follow him.


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


In few seconds he had cut it halt
off, and quickly replacing his knife, he
grasped the branch in both hands, gave
it a powerful wrench, and twisted it
clear of the body.


, At this juncture the bears were be-
meath the tree, and the next moment
one of them began the ascent. Car
son seized the limb in firm grasp,
and placed himself in the best position
he could secure to dispute the matter
with them.


There is popularity about grizzly
bears, and, in fact, about all of the
various species, which, perhaps, is not
generally known. Their noses are
very sensitive, and they are more sus-
ceptible to stinging pain on that organ
than upon any other portion OF the