Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/818

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proceeded far before lie came upon a herd feeding, which, scenting him before he could get a shot, made off up the hill and along the comb of the ridge. Graygritz followed at the top of his speed. Approaching a little thicket, the hunter noticed that the deer suddenly shied and took a wide circuit round the covered spot. Graygritz paid little attention to it, however, and cut across, passing by the very verge of the thicket. Suddenly a tremendous crash was heard, and out rushed an enormous grizzly with open mouth and angry eye. There was not a moment to lose, the beast was upon him. Instinctively the hunter raised his gun, fired, and missed. There was no time to turn ; the hot breath of the infuriated animal the hunter could feel upon his cheek. Swinging the barrel over his head he struck desperately at his assailant, thus clubbingr off the terrible foe, until in makinyr a blow the weapon flew from the hunter's hand, leaving him without the slightest means of defence. There was nothing now but to run for it. Darting down the hill, running obliquely so as to take the bear at the greatest disadvantage, the fearful race began. Down the steep hillside rattled the loose stones, and every leap of the bear made the chaparral crash. Again and again the bear was almost upon him, striking at him its ponderous paws with such force as to bring it to its knees. Thus they rushed along until they reached the foot of the hill, when the fugitive became conscious that his strength was gone. He saw before him a horrible death; there was no escape, great drops of agony fell from his forehead; his limbs tottered; in sheer desperation he turned upon his foe, and boldly facing it, uttered an unearthly yell. The beast stopped amazed, drew back, then turned and fled.

A Mexican and an Irish woman once went to a clergyman to be married. The bride could not speak the Mexican's language, and the groom could speak no Irish. The clergyman, who was a good