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speedily killed instead of being brought alive to camp； as ought to
have been done。
In the cases mentioned above the grisly attacked only after having
been itself assailed； or because it feared an assault； for itself or
for its young。 In the old days； however； it may almost be said that a
grisly was more apt to attack than to flee。 Lewis and Clarke and the
early explorers who immediately succeeded them； as well as the first
hunters and trappers； the 〃Rocky Mountain men〃 of the early decades of
the present century； were repeatedly assailed in this manner； and not
a few of the bear hunters of that period found that it was unnecessary
to take much trouble about approaching their quarry； as the grisly was
usually prompt to accept the challenge and to advance of its own
accord； as soon as it discovered the foe。 All this is changed now。 Yet
even at the present day an occasional vicious old bear may be found；
in some far…off and little…trod fastness； which still keeps up the
former habit of its kind。 All old hunters have tales of this sort to
relate； the prowess； cunning； strength； and ferocity of the grisly
being favorite topics for camp…fire talk throughout the Rockies； but
in most cases it is not safe to accept these stories without careful
sifting。
Still it is just as unsafe to reject them all。 One of my own cowboys
was once attacked by a grisly； seemingly in pure wantonness。 He was
riding up a creek bottom and had just passed a clump of rose and bull…
berry bushes when his horse gave such a leap as almost to unseat him；
and then darted madly forward。 Turning round in the saddle to his
utter astonishment he saw a large bear galloping after him； at the
horse's heels。 For a few jumps the race was close； then the horse drew
away and the bear wheeled and went into a thicket of wild plums。 The
amazed and indignant cowboy； as soon as he could rein in his steed；
drew his revolver and rode back to and around the thicket； endeavoring
to provoke his late pursuer to come out and try conclusions on more
equal terms； but prudent Ephraim had apparently repented of his freak
of ferocious bravado； and declined to leave the secure shelter of the
jungle。
Other attacks are of a much more explicable nature。 Mr。 Huffman； the
photographer of Miles City； informed me once when butchering some
slaughtered elk he was charged twice by a she…bear and two well…grown
cubs。 This was a piece of sheer bullying； undertaken solely with the
purpose of driving away the man and feasting on the carcasses； for in
each charge the three bears； after advancing with much blustering；
roaring； and growling； halted just before coming to close quarters。 In
another instance a gentleman I once knew； a Mr。 S。 Carr。 was charged
by a grisly from mere ill temper at being disturbed at mealtime。 The
man was riding up a valley； and the bear was at an elk carcass； near a
clump of firs。 As soon as it became aware of the approach of the
horseman； while he was yet over a hundred yards distant； it jumped on
the carcass； looked at him a moment； and then ran straight for him。
There was no particular reason why it should have charged； for it was
fat and in good trim； though when killed its head showed scars made by
the teeth of rival grislies。 Apparently it had been living so well；
principally on flesh； that it had become quarrelsome； and perhaps its
not over sweet disposition had been soured by combats with others of
its own kind。 In yet another case； a grisly charged with even less
excuse。 An old trapper； from whom I occasionally bought fur； was
toiling up a mountain pass when he spied a big bear sitting on his
haunches on the hill…side above。 The trapper shouted and waved his
cap； whereupon； to his amazement； the bear uttered a loud 〃wough〃 and
charged straight down on himonly to fall a victim to misplaced
boldness。
I am even inclined to think that there have been wholly exceptional
occasions when a grisly has attacked a man with the deliberate purpose
of making a meal of him； when； in other words； it has started on the
career of a man…eater。 At least； on any other theory I find it
difficult to account for an attack which once came to my knowledge。 I
was at Sand point； on Pend'Oreille Lake； and met some French and Meti
trappers； then in town with their bales of beaver； otter； and sable。
One of them； who gave his name as Baptiste Lamoche； had his head
twisted over to one side； the result of the bite of a bear。 When the
accident occurred he was out on a trapping trip with two companions。
They had pitched camp right on the shore of a cove in a little lake；
and his comrades were off fishing in a dugout or pirogue。 He himself
was sitting near the shore； by a little lean…to； watching some beaver
meat which was sizzling over the dying embers。 Suddenly； and without
warning； a great bear； which had crept silently up beneath the shadows
of the tall evergreens； rushed at him； with a guttural roar； and
seized him before he could rise to his feet。 It grasped him with its
jaws at the junction of the neck and shoulder； making the teeth meet
through bone； sinew； and muscle； and turning； tracked off towards the
forest； dragging with it the helpless and paralyzed victim。 Luckily
the two men in the canoe had just paddled round the point； in sight
of； and close to； camp。 The man in the bow； seeing the plight of their
comrade； seized his rifle and fired at the bear。 The bullet went
through the beast's lungs； and it forthwith dropped its prey； and
running off some two hundred yards； lay down on its side and died。 The
rescued man recovered full health and strength； but never again
carried his head straight。
Old hunters and mountain…men tell many stories； not only of malicious
grislies thus attacking men in camp； but also of their even dogging
the footsteps of some solitary hunter and killing him when the
favorable opportunity occurs。 Most of these tales are mere fables； but
it is possible that in altogether exceptional instances they rest on a
foundation of fact。 One old hunter whom I knew told me such a story。
He was a truthful old fellow and there was no doubt that he believed
what he said； and that his companion was actually killed by a bear；
but it is probable that he was mistaken in reading the signs of his
comrade's fate； and that the latter was not dogged by the bear at all；
but stumbled on him and was slain in the surprise of the moment。
At any rate； cases of wanton assaults by grislies are altogether out
of the common。 The ordinary hunter may live out his whole life in the
wilderness and never know aught of a bear attacking a man unprovoked；
and the great majority of bears are shot under circumstances of no
special excitement； as they either make no fight at all； or； if they
do fight； are killed before there is any risk of their doing damage。
If surprised on the plains； at some distance from timber or from badly
broken ground； it is no uncommon feat for a single horseman to kill
them with a revolver。 Twice of late years it has been performed in the
neighborhood of my ranch。 In both instances the men were not hunters
out after game； but simply cowboys； riding over the range in early
morning in pursuance of their ordinary duties among the cattle。 I knew
both men and have worked with them on the round…up。 Like most cowboys；
they carried 44…calibre Colt revolvers； and were accustomed to and
fairly expert in their use； and they were mounted on ordinary cow…
poniesquick； wiry； plucky little beasts。 In one case the bear was
seen from quite a distance； lounging across a broad table…land。 The
cowboy； by taking advantage of a winding and rather shallow coulie；
got quite close to him。 He then scrambled out of the coulie； put spurs
to his pony； and raced up to within fifty yards of the astonished bear
ere the latter quite understood what it was that was running at him
through the gray dawn。 He made no attempt at fight； but ran at top
speed towards a clump of brush not far off at the head of a creek。
Before he could reach it； however； the galloping horsemen was
alongside； and fired three shots into his broad back。 He did not turn；
but ran on into the bushes and then fell over and died。
In the other case the cowboy； a Texan； was mounted on a good cutting
pony； a spirited； handy； agile little animal； but excitable； and with
a habit of dancing； which rendered it difficult to shoot from its
back。 The man was with the round…up wagon； and had been sent off by
himself to make a circle through some low； barren buttes； where it was
not thought more than a few head of stock would be found。 On rounding
the corner of a small washout he almost ran over a bear which was
feeding on the carcass of a steer that had died in an alkali hole。
After a moment of stunned surprise the bear hurled himself at the
intruder with furious impetuosity； while the cowboy； wheeling his
horse on its haunches and dashing in the spurs； carried it just clear
of his assailant's headlong rush。 After a few springs he reined in and
once more wheeled half round； having drawn his revolver； only to find
the bear again charging and almost on him。 This time he fired into it；
near the joining of the neck and shoulder； the bullet