They came up again and again; they would draw back so as to avoid
those stinging strokes, sniff, growl and push upward, more eager
than ever to clutch the poor fellow, who was compressing himself
between the limb and the trunk, and raining his blows with the
persistency of a pugilist.

They were finally forced to desist for a few minutes in order to
give their snouts time to regain their tone. The bulky creatures
looked at each other and seemed to say, "That's a mighty queer
customer up there; he doesn't fight fairly, but we'll fetch him
yet."

Once more and for the last time, they returned to the charge, but
the plucky scout was awaiting them, and his club whizzed through
the air like the piston rod of a steam engine. The grizzlies found
it more than they could stand, and tumbling back to solid earth
they gave up the contract in disgust. Carson tarried where he was
until they were beyond sight, when he descended and hastily caught
up and reloaded his rifle, having escaped, as he always declared,
by the narrowest chance of all his life.



CHAPTER XI.


On the Green River -- In the Blackfoot Country -- The Blackfeet
-- An Unwelcome Visit -- The Pursuit and Parley -- Dissolution of
the Peace Congress.