man for
himself. They'd expect me to show that I hadn't altogether forgotten my
craft in connection with handling a rifle. Once I used to be a crack
shot, but lack of experience plays hob with a man's nerves," replied
Mr. Mabie, as he sat upon his steed and played with the repeating rifle
he held.

"I see you are enjoying the situation, boys. Would one of you like to
wind him up?" and the ranchman turned to Frank.

"I don't believe I would, sir," laughed that worthy.

"How about you, Jerry?"

"I've often dreamed of shooting such game, but excuse me, Mr. Mabie, it
would be too much like the butcher business to please me," observed the
other.

At this the stockman laughed.

"Oh, I can understand that principle of honor in a true sportsman, my
lad, and I must say it does you credit; but when you come to know
grizzlies better, and appreciate their terrible strength, you'll agree
with the rest of us that a man has to forget such things when he gets a
chance to puncture the hide of so fierce a monster as this old rogue. He
could kill a horse with a single blow, or tear one into shreds with
those claws. If I can get my mount to go a little closer, I'll try to
wind him up with a single ball, but it's difficult to shoot from the
back of a nervous pony."

He began to speak to his steed, which was striking the turf with its
hoofs, and champing at the bit, as if terrified at such close proximity
to, an animal so greatly to be dreaded.

Then suddenly there was a wild shout from the cowboys, and Frank,
looking, saw one of them whirling his horse in wild flight, and dashing
toward the group. He seemed to guess instinctively what had
happened--the rope of the opposite rider must have broken under the
tremendous strain. This really left the grizzly free, and, filled with
mad rage, he was galloping straight toward them!

CHAPTER VIII

BLUFF MISSES SOMETHING

"Look out there!" shouted one of the cowboys.

"Run, boys!" exclaimed Frank as he started to turn his pony around so as
to get beyond reach of the rapidly advancing bear.

He had just succeeded in doing this, and even started to gallop away,
when he saw a sight that almost froze the blood in his veins.

Jerry had, of course, intended doing a similar vamoosing stunt. It
happened, however, that his horse was more frightened than those of the
others. When he jerked at the bridle the beast whirled with such a
vicious fling that the boy, totally unprepared for s