Part 8 (1/2)

”Mountain Charlie?” repeated Frank, mystified

”And has a den in the mountains, too! What sort of a beast is that? Or can it be a wild hed heartily

”I forgot you were tenderfeet, boys We call a grizzly by that na him has never proven a profitable business, and, as a rule, he has never before coer tealloped in toldhe had killed in the direction of the hills”

”Oh! if we could only get there in ti his camera a little closer to his body

”That's just what you're going to see I sent word that he was not to be hurt until we arrived Horses are being hitched up for us all I suppose you can ride, boys?” inquired the owner of the ranch

”To a certain extent, though I suppose your cowboys will think us pretty punky at it,” answered Jerry

”But wewe can while here,” piped up Bluff earnestly

”Good for you! These horses are only old plugs, however, so there's no fear of the aith you; and here they co a nus,” the four intended for himself and chums possessed considerable of the fire that had anio, boys Take your pick Then we're off”

Each seized upon the nearest ani use of the stirrup, threw himself into the saddle As Jerry had said, all of them had frequently ridden at home, and indeed considered that they knew as e boy of the East; but that amounted to very little out here, where every one almost lived upon the back of a broncho

”Wow! But this is going soroup dashed madly up the valley

”I only hope I don't losetroubles of his own in the rear

”Look ahead, fellows! You can see what's going on, now!” called Frank, who kept alongside the ranchman in the lead

”Why, there's the bear, as sure as you live!” Bluff gasped

”But what's he trying to do? First he rushes one way, and then turns around torattled”

”Don't you see, Jerry, they've got him lassoed? He wants to tackle any one of those three cowboys, but he just can't, with ashim in three directions”

”Talk to me about that, will you, Frank!” cried Jerry ”I never expected to see a grizzly bear held up in a rope like a steer Look at the ga like fun They seem somewhat scared, too, pard Between you andbeast was airip on me”

It was just as Jerry said The cowboys had headed the grizzly off so that he was unable to gain the safety of the wild es

Doubtless he had been loth to leave his prey at the approach of the riders, and this had contributed to his final undoing

One after another three of therizzly as he reared his The lariats stretched like piano wires under the strain, and as the cowboys had taken up positions in a sort of triangle they could keep the bear fro any sort of rush

”Watch and see the fun,” said Mr Mabie, who hadfrom the ranch house; but he did not seem in any hurry to utilize the saood use of his carew the exertions of the trapped grizzly He was snarling with rage The foaathered about his mouth, and Frank shuddered as he saw the cruel teeth, not to speak of the long, deadly and poisonous claws