The picture thus presented was too true to be contradicted, and made a deep impression on the mind of Mr. Stuart; but the idea of abandoning a fellow being, and a comrade, in such a forlorn situation, was too repugnant to his feelings to be admitted for an instant.  He represented to the men that the malady of Mr. Crooks could not be of long duration, and that, in all probability, he would be able to travel in the course of a few days.  It was with great difficulty, however, that he prevailed upon them to abide the event.

CHAPTER XLVII.

     Ben Jones and a Grizzly Bear.—­Rocky Heights—­Mountain
     Torrents.—­Traces of M’Lellan.—­Volcanic Remains—­Mineral
     Earths.—­Peculiar Clay for Pottery.—­Dismal Plight of
     M’Lellan.—­Starvation.—­Shocking Proposition of a Desperate
     Man.—­A Broken-Down Bull.—­A Ravenous Meal.—­Indian Graves—­
     Hospitable Snakes.-A Forlorn Alliance.

As the travellers were now in a dangerous neighborhood, where the report of a rifle might bring the savages upon them, they had to depend upon their old beaver-trap for subsistence.  The little river on which they were encamped gave many “beaver signs,” and Ben Jones set off at daybreak, along the willowed banks, to find a proper trapping-place.  As he was making his way among the thickets, with his trap on his shoulder and his rifle in his hand, he heard a crushing sound, and turning, beheld a huge grizzly bear advancing upon him, with terrific growl.  The sturdy Kentuckian was not to be intimidated by man or monster.  Leveling his rifle, he pulled the trigger.  The bear was wounded, but not mortally:  instead, however, of rushing upon his assailant, as is generally the case with this kind of bear, he retreated into the bushes.  Jones followed him for some distance, but with suitable caution, and Bruin effected his escape.

As there was every prospect of a detention of some days in this place, and as the supplies of the beaver-trap were too precarious to be depended upon, it became absolutely necessary to run some risk of discovery by hunting in the neighborhood.  Ben Jones, therefore, obtained permission to range with his rifle some distance from the camp, and set off to beat up the river banks, in defiance of bear or Blackfeet.

He returned in great spirits in the course of a few hours, having come upon a gang of elk about six miles off, and killed five.  This was joyful news, and the party immediately moved forward to the place where he had left the carcasses.  They were obliged to support Mr. Crooks the whole distance, for he was unable to walk.  Here they remained for two or three days, feasting heartily on elk meat, and drying as much as they would be able to carry away with them.