as considering the advisability of starting in search of him, when a
sound reached my ears as of some one breaking through the undergrowth,
and concluding that it was my master returning, I laid back and
abandoned myself to the contemplation of the blue smoke wreaths that
curled above my head. As the sounds came nearer, I began to doubt
whether it could be Wakometkla after all, for _his_ progress through the
thick undergrowth that skirted the valley, was usually comparatively
noiseless, but I was so absorbed in my own reflections, that I did not
give it a second thought, but lazily awaited the appearance of the new
comer, whatever he or it might be. In a few moments the mystery was
solved, and in a manner the reverse of pleasant. Emerging from the dense
undergrowth through which he had forced his way, the new arrival entered
the little clearing near whose center I was reclining, and on turning to
discover what had occasioned the noises I had heard, I beheld an object
that sent a thrill of terror to my heart, and for a moment rendered me
incapable of motion. The object in question, was a large animal, which I
at once recognized as the _grizzly bear_; the most dreaded of all
creatures that inhabit this region.

CHAPTER XV.

TREED BY A GRIZZLY.

The bear was one of the largest of his kind, but it was not so much his
size that impressed me with fear, as the knowledge of his fierce nature.
It is true, that personally I knew but little of the habits of the
animal, although this was not my first introduction to "old Ephraim,"
but from the tales of the Indians, I had learned enough to cause me to
feel certain that I was in deadly peril. When my eyes first rested on
the monster, he had just emerged from the thicket at the same point at
which Wakometkla had entered it. On reaching the open ground he advanced
a pace or two, and then halting, reared himself up and stood upon his
hind legs, at the same time uttering a sound which resembled the
"blowing" of hogs when suddenly startled in the forest. He remained in
this upright attitude for some moments, rubbing his head with his fore
paws and playing them about like a monkey; in fact, as he stood facing
me, he looked not unlike a gigantic ape. He was of a yellowish red
color, with legs and feet nearly black, but color is no characteristic
among these animals, scarce two of them being alike in this particular.

To say that I was not terrified by the arrival of this unwelcom