o did not even ask whether we wished for his society or not.
Armitage remained behind, so I did not witness his parting with Miss
Hargrave, but he soon galloped after us. Peter accompanied us as far as
his brother's, to take the place of poor Mark, who was still unfit for
work, though in a fair way of recovery. We spent a day with the young
backwoodsmen, whose hearts were delighted with a present of a first-rate
Joe Manton. Our intention was to push on for the base of the Rocky
Mountains to a region where deer and buffalo and big-horns abounded. We
shot several deer, but as we had come across no buffalo, the larger
herds had, we supposed, moved northward. We had encamped one afternoon
earlier than usual, being tempted to halt by a wide stream and a wood
near at hand. Our fire being lighted and our meat put on to roast and
stew, Armitage, Story, and I took our guns to go out in search of
turkeys or other small game, should we be unable to find deer. Armitage
took two of his dogs, though they often gave us more trouble than
assistance in hunting. We had, however, been tolerably successful, and
shot three fine gobblers and some smaller birds, when, as we were
returning towards camp, the dogs gave tongue and started off to the
right, refusing to return at their master's call.

We hurried on as fast as the rough nature of the ground would allow us.
We were on the top of some low cliffs which had formed at some time or
other of the world's history the side of a torrent now dried up and
overgrown with trees. Presently we heard a cry of--

"Here, boys, help, help!"

At the same time one of the dogs leaped over the cliff, and we saw a
short distance from us Charley struggling with a brown bear,
providentially not a grizzly, which with great courage he had grasped by
the throat so as to prevent the brute from biting him; but he was
brought on his knees, his cap had fallen off, and his gun lay on the
ground beside him. In another instant the bear would have seized his
head, when the dog leaped down on the creature's back and caused a
diversion in his favour. To fire would have been dangerous, for had we
tried to kill the bear we should have run a fearful risk of shooting
Charley. We therefore trusted to the assistance of the dogs, the other,
following its companion, having fixed its teeth well into the bear.
Charley manfully continued the contest, but was afraid of releasing his
hold of the bear's throat lest it shou