afford all he needed and he was engaged in leisurely collecting an armful
when he was startled by the rattling of the leaves behind him.

The wood was dropped on the instant, and the alarmed lad wheeled about to
face his new danger. Instead of two or three Indians, as he had
anticipated, he saw an enormous grizzly bear, about a dozen feet in the
rear, coming directly toward him, with very little doubt of his purpose.

Fred had no thought of anything of this character, and for a time he was
paralyzed with terror, unable to speak or stir. These precious seconds
were improved by the huge animal, which continued lumbering heavily
forward toward the boy. Bruin had his jaws apart and his red tongue
lolling out, while a guttural grunt was occasionally heard, as if the
beast was anticipating the crunching of the tender flesh and bones of the
lad.

Before the latter was within reach, however, he had recovered his usual
activity, and, with a bound and a yell of terror, Fred started in the
direction of the clearing, where he had left the mustangs, and where he
had intended to kindle the camp-fire. But the enormous, bulky creature,
although swinging along in his awkward fashion, still made good speed, and
gained so rapidly upon the boy that he almost abandoned hope of escape.

At this critical moment Fred thought of his revolver, and he whipped it
out in a twinkling. Whirling about, he took quick aim and discharged both
barrels almost in the face of the brute. Then, flinging the pistol against
his leather nose, he turned back and continued his flight at the utmost
bent of his speed. Both bullets struck the brute and wounded him, but not
fatally, nor, indeed, enough to check his advance.