For two days they camped, consuming eels and discussing the future.  A most unfortunate difference developed, dividing the little group of men who had suffered together so long.  Gregg and three others favored following the ocean beach.  The other four, headed by Wood, were of the opinion that the better course would be to follow up Eel River to its head, crossing the probably narrow divide and following down some stream headed either south or east.  Neither party would yield and they parted company, each almost hopeless.

Wood and his companions soon found their plan beset with great difficulties.  Spurs of the mountains came to the river’s edge and cut off ascent.  After five days they left the river and sought a mountain ridge.  A heavy snowfall added to their discomfiture.  They killed a small deer, and camped for five days, devouring it thankfully.  Compelled by the snow, they returned to the river-bed, the skin of the deer their only food.  One morning they met and shot at five grizzly bears, but none were killed.  The next morning in a mountain gully eight ugly grizzlies faced them.  In desperation they determined to attack.  Wood and Wilson were to advance and fire.  The others held themselves in reserve—­one of them up a tree.  At fifty feet each selected a bear and fired.  Wilson killed his bear; Wood thought he had finished his.  The beast fell, biting the earth and writhing in agony.  Wilson sensibly climbed a tree and called upon Wood to do likewise.  He started to first reload his rifle and the ball stuck.  When the two shots were fired five of the bears started up the mountain, but one sat quietly on its haunches watching proceedings.  As Wood struggled with his refractory bullet it started for him.  He gained a small tree and climbed beyond reach.  Unable to load, he used his rifle to beat back the beast as it tried to claw him.  To his horror the bear he thought was killed rose to its feet and furiously charged the tree, breaking it down at once.  Wood landed on his feet and ran down the mountain to a small buckeye, the bear after him.  He managed to hook his arm around the tree, swinging his body clear.  The wounded bear was carried by its momentum well down the mountain.  Wood ran for another tree, the other bear close after him, snapping at his heels.  Before he could climb out of reach he was grabbed by the ankle and pulled down.  The wounded bear came jumping up the mountain and caught him by the shoulder.  They pulled against each other as if to dismember him.  His hip was dislocated and he suffered some painful flesh wounds.

His clothing was stripped from his body and he felt the end had come, but the bears seemed disinclined to seize his flesh.  They were evidently suspicious of white meat.  Finally one disappeared up the ravine, while the other sat down a hundred yards away, and keenly watched him.  As long as he kept perfectly still the bear was quiet, but if he moved at all it rushed upon him.