warning him of the danger。 But the man was a very reckless fellow and
he answered by jeering at the old hunter for his over…caution in being
afraid of a crippled bear。 California Joe made no further effort to
dissuade him； remarking quietly： 〃Very well； sonny； go in； it's your
own affair。〃 Miller then leaped off the bank on which they stood and
strode into the thicket； holding his rifle at the port。 Hardly had he
taken three steps when the bear rose in front of him； roaring with
rage and pain。 It was so close that the man had no chance to fire。 Its
fore…arms hung useless and as it reared unsteadily on its hind…legs；
lunging forward at him； he seized it by the ears and strove to hold it
back。 His strength was very great； and he actually kept the huge head
from his face and braced himself so that he was not overthrown； but
the bear twisted its muzzle from side to side； biting and tearing the
man's arms and shoulders。 Another soldier jumping down slew the beast
with a single bullet； and rescued his comrade； but though alive he was
too badly hurt to recover and died after reaching the hospital。
Buffalo Bill was given the bear…skin； and I believe has it now。
The instances in which hunters who have rashly followed grislies into
thick cover have been killed or severely mauled might be multiplied
indefinitely。 I have myself known of eight cases in which men have met
their deaths in this manner。
It occasionally happens that a cunning old grisly will lie so close
that the hunter almost steps on him； and he then rises suddenly with a
loud； coughing growl and strikes down or seizes the man before the
latter can fire off his rifle。 More rarely a bear which is both
vicious and crafty deliberately permits the hunter to approach fairly
near to； or perhaps pass by； its hiding…place； and then suddenly
charges him with such rapidity that he has barely time for the most
hurried shot。 The danger in such a case is of course great。
Ordinarily； however； even in the brush； the bear's object is to slink
away； not to fight； and very many are killed even under the most
unfavorable circumstances without accident。 If an unwounded bear
thinks itself unobserved it is not apt to attack； and in thick cover
it is really astonishing to see how one of these large animals can
hide； and how closely it will lie when there is danger。 About twelve
miles below my ranch there are some large river bottoms and creek
bottoms covered with a matted mass of cottonwood； box…alders； bull…
berry bushes； rosebushes； ash； wild plums； and other bushes。 These
bottoms have harbored bears ever since I first saw them； but； though
often in company with a large party； I have repeatedly beaten through
them； and though we must at times have been very near indeed to the
game； we never so much as heard it run。
When bears are shot； as they usually must be； in open timber or on the
bare mountain； the risk is very much less。 Hundreds may thus be killed
with comparatively little danger； yet even under these circumstances
they will often charge； and sometimes make their charge good。 The
spice of danger； especially to a man armed with a good repeating
rifle； is only enough to add zest to the chase； and the chief triumph
is in outwitting the wary quarry and getting within range。 Ordinarily
the only excitement is in the stalk； the bear doing nothing more than
keep a keen look…out and manifest the utmost anxiety to get away。 As
is but natural； accidents occasionally occur； yet they are usually due
more to some failure in man or weapon than to the prowess of the bear。
A good hunter whom I once knew； at a time when he was living in Butte；
received fatal injuries from a bear he attacked in open woodland。 The
beast charged after the first shot； but slackened its pace on coming
almost up to the man。 The latter's gun jambed； and as he was
endeavoring to work it he kept stepping slowly back； facing the bear
which followed a few yards distant； snarling and threatening。
Unfortunately while thus walking backwards the man struck a dead log
and fell over it； whereupon the beast instantly sprang on him and
mortally wounded him before help arrived。
On rare occasions men who are not at the time hunting it fall victims
to the grisly。 This is usually because they stumble on it unawares and
the animal attacks them more in fear than in anger。 One such case；
resulting fatally； occurred near my own ranch。 The man walked almost
over a bear while crossing a little point of brush； in a bend of the
river； and was brained with a single blow of the paw。 In another
instance which came to my knowledge the man escaped with a shaking up；
and without even a fight。 His name was Perkins； and he was out
gathering huckleberries in the woods on a mountain side near
Pend'Oreille Lake。 Suddenly he was sent flying head over heels； by a
blow which completely knocked the breath out of his body； and so
instantaneous was the whole affair that all he could ever recollect
about it was getting a vague glimpse of the bear just as he was bowled
over。 When he came to he found himself lying some distance down the
hill…side； much shaken； and without his berry pail； which had rolled a
hundred yards below him； but not otherwise the worse for his
misadventure； while the footprints showed that the bear； after
delivering the single hurried stoke at the unwitting disturber of its
day…dreams； had run off up…hill as fast as it was able。
A she…bear with cubs is a proverbially dangerous beast； yet even under
such conditions different grislies act in directly opposite ways。 Some
she…grislies； when their cubs are young； but are able to follow them
about； seem always worked up to the highest pitch of anxious and
jealous rage； so that they are likely to attack unprovoked any
intruder or even passer…by。 Others when threatened by the hunter leave
their cubs to their fate without a visible qualm of any kind； and seem
to think only of their own safety。
In 1882 Mr。 Casper W。 Whitney； now of New York； met with a very
singular adventure with a she…bear and cub。 He was in Harvard when I
was； but left it and； like a good many other Harvard men of that time；
took to cow…punching in the West。 He went on a ranch in Rio Arriba
County； New Mexico； and was a keen hunter； especially fond of the
chase of cougar； bear； and elk。 One day while riding a stony mountain
trail he saw a grisly cub watching him from the chaparral above； and
he dismounted to try to capture it； his rifle was a 40…90 Sharp's。
Just as he neared the cub； he heard a growl and caught a glimpse of
the old she； and he at once turned up…hill； and stood under some tall；
quaking aspens。 From this spot he fired at and wounded the she； then
seventy yards off； and she charged furiously。 He hit her again； but as
she kept coming like a thunderbolt he climbed hastily up the aspen；
dragging his gun with him； as it had a strap。 When the bear reached
the foot of the aspen she reared； and bit and clawed the slender
trunk； shaking it for a moment； and he shot her through the eye。 Off
she sprang for a few yards； and then spun round a dozen times； as if
dazed or partially stunned； for the bullet had not touched the brain。
Then the vindictive and resolute beast came back to the tree and again
reared up against it； this time to receive a bullet that dropped her
lifeless。 Mr。 Whitney then climbed down and walked to where the cub
had been sitting as a looker…on。 The little animal did not move until
he reached out his hand； when it suddenly struck at him like an angry
cat； dove into the bushes； and was seen no more。
In the summer of 1888 an old…time trapper； named Charley Norton； while
on Loon Creek； of the middle fork of the Salmon； meddled with a she
and her cubs。 She ran at him and with one blow of her paw almost
knocked off his lower jaw； yet he recovered； and was alive when I last
heard of him。
Yet the very next spring the cowboys with my own wagon on the Little
Missouri round…up killed a mother bear which made but little more
fight than a coyote。 She had two cubs； and was surprised in the early
morning on the prairie far from cover。 There were eight or ten cowboys
together at the time； just starting off on a long circle； and of
course they all got down their ropes in a second； and putting spurs to
their fiery little horses started toward the bears at a run； shouting
and swinging their loops round their heads。 For a moment the old she
tried to bluster and made a half…hearted threat of charging； but her
courage failed before the rapid onslaught of her yelling； rope…
swinging assailants； and she took to her heels and galloped off；
leaving the cubs to shift for themselves。 The cowboys were close
behind； however； and after half a mile's run she bolted into a shallow
cave or hole in the side of a butte； where she stayed cowering and
growling； until one of the men leaped off his horse； ran up to the
edge of the hole； and killed her with a single bullet from his
revolver； fired so close that the powder burned her hair。 The
unfortunate cubs were roped； and then so dragged about that they were
speedily killed instead of being brought alive to camp； as ought to
have been done。
In the cases mentione