and is even now trying to drag one of my best yearlings
off to the mountain canyon where he has his den," replied the other.

"Mountain Charlie?" repeated Frank, mystified.

"And has a den in the mountains, too! What sort of a beast is that? Or
can it be a wild man?" asked Bluff.

The ranchman laughed heartily.

"I forgot you were tenderfeet, boys. We call a grizzly by that name out
here. This fellow we have known for some time. Hunting him has never
proven a profitable business, and, as a rule, he has never before come
so far out in the open; but hunger tempted the old chap, and the man who
galloped in told me he was even then dragging the yearling he had killed
in the direction of the hills."

"Oh! if we could only get there in time to see them shoot him!"
exclaimed Will, hitching his camera a little closer to his body.

"That's just what you're going to see. I sent word that he was not to be
hurt until we arrived. Horses are being hitched up for us all. I suppose
you can ride, boys?" inquired the owner of the ranch.

"To a certain extent, though I suppose your cowboys will think us pretty
punky at it," answered Jerry.

"But we mean to learn everything we can while here," piped up Bluff
earnestly.

"Good for you! These horses are only old plugs, however, so there's no
fear of them running away with you; and here they come."

Several cowboys came toward them, each leading a number of horses. Frank
thought that for "old plugs," the four intended for himself and chums
possessed considerable of the fire that had animated them in other
years.

"Up you go, boys. Take your pick. Then we're off."

Each seized upon the nearest animal, and, making use of the stirrup,
threw himself into the saddle. As Jerry had said, all of them had
frequently ridden at home, and indeed considered that they knew as much
about a saddle as the average boy of the East; but that amounted to very
little out here, where every one almost lived upon the back of a
broncho.

"Wow! But this is going some!" said Jerry as the whole group dashed
madly up the valley.

"I only hope I don't lose my camera in the rush," came from Will, who
was having troubles of his own in the rear.

"Look ahead, fellows! You can see what's going on, now!" called Frank,
who kept alongside the ranchman in the lead.

"Why, there's the bear, as sure as you live!" Bluff gasped.

"But what's he trying to do? First he rushes one way, and then turns
around to make