hat was my dismay to
see a huge grizzly standing on its hind legs, as if about to make its
last fatal spring, close to Dick, who had no weapon in his hand with
which to defend himself. I had brought my gun, but dared not fire for
fear of killing my friend instead of the bear. Dick, however, seemed in
no way dismayed, and as I got a little nearer, I saw that he held a
large buffalo robe in both his hands. The Indian and I shouted in the
hopes of distracting Bruin's attention. Our cries were responded to by
Armitage and Story, who at that moment providentially made their
appearance. Still none of us dared to fire, though we approached nearer
and nearer, hoping that the bear would postpone his spring until we
could get near enough to shoot him through the head without injuring our
friend. Presently the bear growling savagely, indicative of his
intention to seize his victim, began to advance; when Dick, who had
never for a moment withdrawn his eyes from the monster, in an instant
threw the cloak over its head. He then springing back, ran off as hard
as his legs could carry him, his example being imitated by the Indians.
The bear in its struggles drew the cloak close over its eyes, when I
fired and over it rolled with its legs in the air. Still it was not
dead, and might at any moment be up again; and, more savage than ever
from its wound, would be certain to attack us fiercely.

Armitage and Story, making their way through the brushwood, had now got
near enough to fire. They pulled their triggers at the same moment,
while I quickly reloaded. It was fortunate that I did so, for
notwithstanding its wounds, the bear, suddenly regaining its feet, made
a dash at me who was nearest to it, and in another instant I should have
been torn by its tremendous claws, when I fired and to my infinite
satisfaction it again rolled over and, giving another convulsive
struggle, lay dead.

Dick thanked us for our timely assistance, and promised that he would
never as long as he lived go to sleep away from the camp in a region
infested by grizzlies.

This was the first we had seen for some time, and the adventure was a
caution to us to look out for them in future. With great reluctance on
the part of Dick and me, we once more packed up and moved westward;
still we did not abandon all hope that we should find our young friend.
I, however, had lost the interest I had before felt in hunting, and
would rather have gone back and content