gang
with him?" observed Paul, as he rode alongside of his younger brother,
and just in front of the two men.

"Most likely he is expecting trouble and has help at hand," returned
Chet. "He knows well enough we won't give up our claim without a fight."

"It's possible he thought to frighten us off until Allen got back from
San Francisco."

"Don't make any difference how much help he has," broke in Jack Blowfen.
"He ain't no right to put ye out like a couple o' dogs, an' he knows
it."

In this manner the talk went on until a little after noon, when the
locality known as Demon Hollow was reached.

"Do you remember the badger, Paul?" laughed Chet. "The Hollow looks
different in the daylight, doesn't it?"

"Yes, indeed, but still--what was that?"

"Jumpin' June bugs!" cried Jack Blowfen. "Dottery, did ye hear that?"

"I did," replied the old ranch owner, and he clutched his gun
apprehensively.

"I heard something," said Chet. "What was it?"

"A bar, boy, sure ez ye are born--a grizzly!"

"Oh!"

At once the little party came to a halt. To the right of them was a tall
overhanging rock, to the left a number of prickly bushes. Ahead and
behind was the winding and uneven road along which their animals had
come on a walk.

"Do ye see old Ephraim?" asked Jack Blowfen, as he, too, got his gun in
readiness.

"I don't see anything," declared Paul.

Bang! It was Chet's gun which spoke. He fired up toward the top of the
overhanging rock. Scarcely had the shot rung out than a fearful roar of
mingled pain and rage rent the air.

"Shot him, by Jupiter!" cried Caleb Dottery. "Stand from under, quick!"

Hardly had the word been given than there was another roar. Then a heavy
weight filled the air and down into the road leaped a big brown and
gray grizzly weighing all of eight hundred pounds.

He came down between the boys and the two men, and no sooner had he
landed than Dottery and Blowfen opened fire on him, both striking the
beast in the shoulder, and, consequently, doing but little damage, for a
grizzly bear is tough and can stand many shots which do not touch his
vital parts.

The horses, much scared, backed in all directions, some going into the
bushes and others up against the rocks.

More angry than before the grizzly half turned, and then, without
warning, raised up on his hind legs and made for Chet, whose horse was
now flat upon the rocks, having stumbled in his hasty retreat, Chet
himself was partly