The Young Ranchers; Or, Fighting the Sioux

aling through the rocky solitude, the snow had ceased falling, and the weather was colder than on the precedi

ly," whis

see what is

or he was as ready to defend his horse as a friend. He bounde

mal to spend the night. The boys dropped their blankets, but each

protected from the falling snow. This bare place was less than a quarter of an acre in extent, and narrowed to what might be called a point, where the horse had found refuge from the storm. Surrounde

ght conceivable; a colossal grizzly bear stood in the middle of the "door," calmly surveying him, and evidently of the beli

, in the agony of helplessness, emitted that astounding cry which rang like the wail of doom through the snowy solitude. Thousands of h

ge, or to allow it to slip from him. The enormous trail which he had made in the snow was noticed by Tim Brophy before

t so pitiable that, in the stirring moments, b

whispered Tim, coming to a halt.

as will be remembered, was a few paces

owth, and it's mesilf that's going to p

rd it is to kill one of those cre

his impetuosity. When he saw his services needed, he was so eager to give them that he freq

fly. It was as impossible for him to miss as it was to inflict a mortal wou

t, and probably a sharp twinge in his shoulder, apprised him of what was going on a

d, they were prepared to open a bombardment, which they did without delay; but after a number of sh

annon to stop him; we must f

rren wheeled about and dashed off without paying heed to

mooth stone and he pitched headlong, with his gun flying from his grasp. He was not hurt, and he bounded up again as if made of rubber. He supposed the animal, which can lumber along at a speed

confidence again, and he turned about

ave lost no time in increasing the distance between him and the brute. The latter had scared Billy half to death, and his master meant to punish him therefor, s

f Tim would have brought disaster,

for him had opened. His panic departed like a flash, and he plunged through the opening with a snort of triumph; but his line of fl

ter. Be that as it may, he was no sooner beside the huge brute, who slightly turned his head on hearing the clatter of the hoofs, than he let drive with both hind

d Tim, "let him have another broads

. He was thoroughly roused, and made for the horse, who showed more sense than his master by dashing off a

but a few paces beyond the youth, when, seeing how useless it was

o service. He was willing to run when the necessity was apparent,

or get out of the path, had not a bullet bored its way directly through the brain of the gr