s coming slowly down that winding trail.
Reynolds watched her almost spell-bound. She was a superb horsewoman,
and rode as one born to the saddle. How graceful was her figure, and
how perfectly the noble animal she was riding responded to the lightest
touch of the rein as he cautiously advanced. Reynolds could see the
girl most plainly now. She sat astride the saddle, with the reins in
her right hand, and a small riding-whip in the other. She wore
buckskin riding-breeches, a khaki-colored blouse, open at the throat,
and a soft felt hat of the same color. The sleeves of her blouse were
rolled up to her elbows, thus exposing her strong, supple arms. All
this Reynolds quickly noticed, and he believed that he had never before
beheld a more beautiful picture of true virile womanhood.

The horse was jet-black, and although walking on such a perilous and
difficult trail, it was easy to tell at the first glance that it was a
splendid thoroughbred. The animal's carriage showed not only pride in
bearing such a beautiful rider, but a full sense of its responsibility
as well. Fine were its proportions, reminding Reynolds more of some
victor of the race-track than the rough and hardy cayuses of the north.

And even as he looked and wondered from whence such a pair of creatures
had so unexpectedly come, the horse gave a terrified snort, threw up
its head, and recoiled back upon its haunches. The cause of this
fright was at once apparent, for around a huge boulder a large hear had
suddenly made its appearance. Reynolds saw at a glance that it was a
grizzly, the most formidable animal of the north, and the terror of the
trails. Although greatly startled at meeting the horse and its rider,
the bear had no idea of retreating. They were blocking his lordly
advance and it made him angry. Its coarse savage growl sawed the air
as it moved menacingly forward.

All this Reynolds noted as he kneeled upon the ground, firmly clutching
his rifle with both hands. Beads of perspiration stood out upon his
forehead as he watched the scene across the deep gulch. The horse was
rearing wildly, and backing slowly up the trail. There was no room to
turn around, so with remarkable coolness and self-control the fair
rider was keeping him pressed close to the bank and face to face with
the on-coming grizzly. At any instant the horse might disregard the
guiding hand as well as the friendly words of encouragement, and in mad
terror attempt t