run, firing a couple of shots, which brought on another resolute charge.  The ground was somewhat rugged and broken, but his pony was as quick on its feet as a cat, and never stumbled, even when going at full speed to avoid the bear’s first mad rushes.  It speedily became so excited, however, as to render it almost impossible for the rider to take aim.  Sometimes he would come up close to the bear and wait for it to charge, which it would do, first at a trot, or rather rack, and then at a lumbering but swift gallop; and he would fire one or two shots before being forced to run.  At other times, if the bear stood still in a good place, he would run by it, firing as he rode.  He spent many cartridges, and though most of them were wasted occasionally a bullet went home.  The bear fought with the most savage courage, champing its bloody jaws, roaring with rage, and looking the very incarnation of evil fury.  For some minutes it made no effort to flee, either charging or standing at bay.  Then it began to move slowly towards a patch of ash and wild plums in the head of a coulie, some distance off.  Its pursuer rode after it, and when close enough would push by it and fire, while the bear would spin quickly round and charge as fiercely as ever, though evidently beginning to grow weak.  At last, when still a couple of hundred yards from cover the man found he had used up all his cartridges, and then merely followed at a safe distance.  The bear no longer paid heed to him, but walked slowly forwards, swaying its great head from side to side, while the blood streamed from between its half-opened jaws.  On reaching the cover he could tell by the waving of the bushes that it walked to the middle and then halted.  A few minutes afterwards some of the other cowboys rode up, having been attracted by the incessant firing.  They surrounded the thicket, firing and throwing stones into the bushes.  Finally, as nothing moved, they ventured in and found the indomitable grisly warrior lying dead.

Cowboys delight in nothing so much as the chance to show their skill as riders and ropers; and they always try to ride down and rope any wild animal they come across in favorable ground and close enough up.  If a party of them meets a bear in the open they have great fun; and the struggle between the shouting, galloping, rough-riders and their shaggy quarry is full of wild excitement and not unaccompanied by danger.  The bear often throws the noose from his head so rapidly that it is a difficult matter to catch him; and his frequent charges scatter his tormentors in every direction while the horses become wild with fright over the roaring, bristling beast—­for horses seem to dread a bear more than any other animal.  If the bear cannot reach cover, however, his fate is sealed.  Sooner or later, the noose tightens over one leg, or perchance over the neck and fore-paw, and as the rope straightens with a “plunk,” the horse braces itself desperately and the bear tumbles over.  Whether he regains his feet or not the cowboy keeps the rope taut; soon another noose tightens over a leg, and the bear is speedily rendered helpless.