ine my
feelings, at finding myself face to face with one of these fierce
animals, alone and without weapons, save my bow and arrows and knife. It
is true, there was abundance of timber near at hand, but unfortunately
the bear was decidedly nearer to me than any tree of sufficient size to
promise a safe refuge. On lying down, I had, without thought, placed
myself in the very center of the clearing, and I found myself at least
one hundred yards from any of the larger trees; the bear had approached
before halting, to within about eighty yards, and stood watching me,
apparently surprised at our rencontre. Without doubt he would overtake
me before I could reach and ascend a tree, and I was fairly bewildered
by the utter helplessness of my situation.

These reflections occupy many minutes of your time to _read_; I
_thought_ them in as many seconds. Indeed, I had not time to form a plan
of either defense or escape, when my antagonist, evidently concluding
that I was fair game, dropped upon all fours, uttered a loud roar and
rushed upon me with open mouth; simultaneously, I turned and fled with
all my speed.

Before I had covered half the distance that separated me from the tree
towards which I had directed my flight, he was almost at my heels, and I
had about determined to stop and engage in the desperate conflict that
seemed inevitable, when his attention was attracted by an object in his
path, and although the halt he made was but momentary, it enabled me to
gain some ground, and I ran on with redoubled speed. The object in
question was none other than the carcass of the "big horn," which lay
fresh and bloody, rolled up in the skin, directly in my line of flight.
The bear pawed it over, snatched a hasty mouthful, and then resumed the
pursuit; but his brief hesitation had been my salvation, and I had
reached the tree which I had selected before he could overtake me. My
climbing experience gained during my expeditions with Wakometkla, now
stood me in good stead, and I "shinned" up the tree with the agility of
a monkey. I had no time to spare, however, for my ursine friend reached
the base of the tree before I had ascended far enough to be entirely out
of reach, and rearing up, succeeded in getting a slight hold of my right
foot. I clung to the tree with the desperation of despair, and the
moccasin giving way, I soon drew myself above his reach, with no other
injury than a severe scratch. In a few seconds I was safely ensconce