CHAPTER IX.
Archie's Adventure with a Grizzly.
On the following morning the boys, as usual, were up with the sun,impatient to try their skill on the big game, with which the woodsabounded. The trapper, who, during his fight in the cave, had receivedwounds that would have prostrated an ordinary man, was alreadystirring, and, having attended to his mules, was moving about aslively as ever, preparing the morning meal. In a few moments theirbreakfast was cooked and eaten, and, after hanging their provisions onthe trees, out of reach of any wild beast that might find his way intocamp during their absence, they shouldered their rifles and followedthe trappers into the forest. Here they divided into two parties, Mr.Winters going with old Bob, and the boys accompanying Dick.
"Now, youngsters," said the latter almost in a whisper, "we hainthuntin' squirrels. We're arter bigger game. I don't s'pose you keer'bout tacklin' a grizzly bar arter seein' me pawed up the way I warlast night; so if you happen to come acrosst one of them varmints, youneedn't mind shootin' at him. Thar's plenty other game, an' what wewant to find now ar' a big-horn. That's an animal, I reckon, you neverseed. Go easy, now, 'cause they've got ears like a painter's, an'noses sharper nor hounds."
So saying, the trapper led the way through a narrow ravine that laybetween two mountains, whose tops seemed to pierce the clouds. Theravine, being thickly covered with bushes and logs, rendered theirprogress slow and tedious, and the boys, who could not help thinkingwhat a fine hiding-place it would afford for a bear or panther, oftencast uneasy glances about them, and kept as close to the trapper aspossible. After they had gone about half a mile, the latter suddenlystopped and said:
"If these yere trees could talk, a'most every one of 'em would have astory to tell you 'bout me an' ole Bill Lawson, 'cause we've oftencome through this gully when it war chuck full of Comanches. You'member I onct told you 'bout waitin' at the ole bar's hole fur him,an' that the ole feller had hid the black mustang in the bushes! Wal,here's the very spot."
As the trapper spoke, he pushed his way into a dense thicket, andshowed the boys the sapling to which the old man had tied the horse.
"Wal, that ar' animal," continued Dick, "stood here fur two hoursquiet an' still as a mouse, an' we tuk him out an' got safe offwithout the varlets bein' the wiser fur it. All the way through herewe could hear 'em talkin' to each other, an'--Look thar, youngsters,quick!"
Before the boys could look up to see what had attracted the trapper'sattention, the sharp report of his rifle rung through the gully, and aqueer-looking animal come tumbling down the mountain, landing almostat their feet. Far up above the tree tops they saw the remainder ofthe flock bound over the rocks and disappear.
"That's a sheep," said the trapper, hastily reloading his rifle."He'll make a fust rate dinner, an', if we keep our eyes open, we mayget another."
The game did bear a close resemblance to sheep, the only differencebeing his enormous horns, which looked altogether too large and heavyfor so small an animal to carry. But the trapper did not allow them toclosely examine their prize, for he exclaimed:
"If we want more of 'em fellers, we mustn't waste no time. But, fust,we must separate, 'cause the further apart we get, the more likely weare to have a shot at 'em. Are you afraid to stay here, little un?"
"Of course not," replied Archie, quickly.
"Wal, then, keep your eyes up the mountain, an' if you see 'em ag'in,blaze away. Come on, Frank. I'll show you whar to stand."
The latter moved off with Dick, and Archie was left to himself. Afterexamining the game to his satisfaction, he took up a position where hecould obtain a good view of the side of the mountain, leaned backagainst a tree, and impatiently waited for the re-appearance of thebig-horns. In front of him ran a deer path, hard and well-beaten asany road. It was, no doubt, used as a highway by animals travelingthrough the ravine; and Archie now and then directed his gaze up anddown the path, in hopes he might discover some game in thatdirection.
He had remained in this position for nearly half an hour, when he_did_ see an animal coming leisurely down the path, about fifty yardsfrom him. It was an enormous grizzly bear. It did not appear to havedetermined upon any thing in particular, for it approached veryslowly, stopping every few feet to snuff the air, and finally seateditself on its haunches, and proceeded to wash its paws and face, afterthe manner of a house cat. Archie had a good view of it. It was nearlyas large as the one the trapper had killed in the cave, and the sightof its powerful claws, and the frightful array of teeth it exhibited,made the young hunter shudder. He had not been expecting so formidablea visitor, and to say that he was frightened would but feebly expresshis feelings. He had presence of mind enough, however, to move behindhis tree, out of sight; but still he could not remove his eyes fromthe animal, neither could he determine upon any plan to extricatehimself from his unpleasant situation. The grizzly had not yetdiscovered him, and Archie had his wits about him sufficiently to notethe fact, that what little wind there was, was blowing from the beartoward himself. For fully five minutes--it seemed much longer toArchie--the grizzly sat in the path, sometimes looking lazily abouthim, and then licking his jaws like a dog that had just enjoyed a goodmeal; and for the same length of time did the young hunter remainbehind his tree watching his movements, and wondering what course hecould pursue to rid himself of his dangerous neighbor. It was not atall probable that the bear would remain in that position until thetrapper returned. What if he should take it into his head to comefurther down the path? Archie would certainly be discovered, for thepath run close by the tree, behind which he was concealed, and whatwould the bear do then? It was something he did not like to thinkabout. He knew, from what he had heard the trapper say, that thegrizzly's disposition is very different from that of the black bear.The latter, unless rendered desperate by hunger, will generally taketo his heels at the sight of a human being; but the grizzly looks uponall who invade his dominions as enemies, and believes in punishingthem accordingly.
These thoughts passed rapidly through Archie's mind, and in a momentmore his resolve was taken. Keeping his eyes fastened on the bear, hecautiously raised his hand above his head, and, to his joy, found thathe could easily reach the lowest limbs of the tree, and that they werestrong enough to sustain his weight. But it was not his intention toleave the grizzly in peaceable possession of the field; for, as soonas he had satisfied himself that he had found a way of escape, hecocked his rifle and cautiously raised it to his shoulder. He wastrembling violently, but at length he succeeded in quieting his nervessufficiently to cover the bear's head with the sight and pull thetrigger. The grizzly, however, arose to his feet just as Archie fired,and the ball, instead of finding a lodgment in his brain, entered hisshoulder. It brought him to the ground, and Archie caught one glimpseof him struggling in the path, and heard his growls of rage and pain,as he dropped his rifle and swung himself into the lowest branches ofthe tree.
It was evident that the bear meant to take ample revenge on him, forArchie heard him coming up the path. But he knew that the grizzlycould not climb, and, after settling himself among the branches, helooked down at his enemy in perfect security. The bear knew where hehad gone, for he ran directly to the foot of the tree, and, aftersmelling at the rifle and pawing it out of his way, he began walkingup and down the path, all the while uttering those terrific growls,that made the young hunter tremble.
At this moment Archie heard the report of a rifle far up the mountain,which was quickly followed by another that sounded nearer. Then came acrashing in the bushes, as the big-horns fled before the hunters, andArchie heard his companions shouting to him:
"Look out, down there," said Frank; "they're running directly towardyou, Archie."
"Keep your eyes open, youngster," chimed in Dick. "Don't let 'em go byyou."
But Archie was not in a situation to intercept them, and he heard thebig-horns dash across the ravine and bound up the mountain on theopposite side, closely followed by the dog, which barked fierce andloud at every jump.
"Archie, why don't you shoot?" again shouted Frank, his voice soundingas though he was coming down the mountain.
"I can't," answered Archie. "Look out! Don't come down here. I'm treedby a grizzly."
"By a grizzly?" repeated Frank, in astonishment. "Has he hurt you?"
"No," shouted Archie, from his tree, "I am all right; but I hurt him,I guess. Look out, Frank! he's going toward you."
This was a fact. The grizzly had stood perfectly still under the tree,listening to the sounds of the chase, until, finding that he could notreach Archie, he determined to revenge himself upon some one else. Hehad not gone far before Useless, having overtaken and killed abig-horn that his master had wounded, came up, and, discovering thegrizzly, instantly gave chase. The bear, maddened by the pain of hiswound, advanced with open mouth to meet him; but the dog, easilyeluding his attacks, kept him busy until the trapper arrived, and putan end to the fight by shooting the bear through the head. Archie hadwatched the struggle from his perch, and, seeing that the grizzly wasdead, he came down out of his tree, feeling very much relieved.
"You keerless feller!" exclaimed the trapper, "didn't I tell you notto mind shootin' at a grizzly bar?"
By this time Frank had come up with a big-horn on his shoulder, and,after having regained his rifle, Archie gave them an account of whathad transpired.
"Wal," said the trapper, "it war keerless to go a foolin' with a barthat ar' way. Now, you stay here, an' I'll go an' get that big-hornthat Useless killed."
The dog, as if understanding what was said, led his master to theplace where he had left the game. When the trapper returned, heremoved the skin of the grizzly, intending to cure it, and give it toArchie to remember his "keerlessness by," as he said. After which,they shouldered their game and returned to camp.
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