Year: 1871

brute shook his head, blinked, but yet
held his ground. The next second a
more powerful blow was given him,
and he beat a hasty retreat to the
earth, until he could recover.


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


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


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


1t being the fall of the year, both of
the bears were quite fat. This un-
doubtedly made them clumsy and
awkward in their movements, and
gave the hunter additional advantage.


Had it been during the spring of
the year, when these animals are lean
and active, it cannot be supposed that
the fugitive could have made anything
like q successful resistance. If they
had not succeeded in overtaking him
before he reached the tree, they would
have crowded him so fast that he
could not have made anything like a
successful fight against them.


By the time the second bear was
upon the ground, the first was climb
ing the tree again, roaring and growl-
ing with rage and pain, while his eyes
were fixed upon the audacious hunter
in a manner which showed that he'd
no disposition to yield the battle to an
unarmed man like him.


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


He was not kept long in waiting
the tree bent under the weight of the
colossal monster; but he'pressed for
ward until he could almost touch the
feet Of the hunter with his claws. AT
this time n number of blows were laid
upon his nose, with such power and
effect that the brute, as before, let go
his hold and retired to the ground.


The bears now took a temporary
breathing spell, during which their
growing screeches 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 ascended al
most together; but by this time Car
son had warmed up to his work, and
he again dealt his blows with such
energy that one of them was seen to
lachrymate, and to give such evidence
of pain, that when he retreated once
more it was plain THAT he had got all
he wanted of the fight.


The other one, however, made one
or two more attempts. But the trap
per was as strong as ever, and his
knotty club came down with the force
of a sledge-hammer upon the tender
nostrils OF the brute, when he, too,
withdrew completely vanquished.


The first bear, growing and lachry-
mating, left the spot without once
looking back at the diminutive foe who
had so thoroughly beaten him. The
second lost no time i'll following him,
and few minutes later Carson was
left alone.


Waiting until the bears were out of
sight, he descended the tree, and re-
gaining his rifle, loaded it without
delay. Then, cutting several pieces
from the elk, he made his way back
to camp, reaching itjust as the night
set in.


This adventure of Kit Carson's,
which is entirely authentic, was most
certainly remarkable one, and it may
be doubted whether a solitary man,
without using gun, pistol or knife,
ever before or since, succeeded in van
gushing two large and fierce grizzly
bears.