ear to take the offensive, just as it would invite
attack from a hesitating dog. The Grizzly sprang up over the edge of
the steep and charged McKiernan, who threw up his rifle and fired at
the bear's chest. It was a Yeager rifle carrying an ounce ball, and it
checked the charge for a moment by bringing the bear to his knees. As
the bear gathered himself for another rush, McKiernan swung the heavy
rifle and struck the bear over the head with the barrel. He was a
powerful man, accustomed to swinging an axe, and the blow knocked the
bear down and stunned him. The stock of the rifle broke in McKiernan's
hands and the barrel fell close by the bear, which had fallen upon the
very edge of a steep slope at the side of the spur or knob.

McKiernan stooped to recover the rifle barrel with which to beat the
bear to death, and in doing so his head came close to the bear's. The
Grizzly had partly recovered, and throwing his head upward he closed
his jaws upon McKiernan's forehead, with a snap like a steel trap. One
lower tusk entered the left eye socket, and an upper canine tooth sunk
into the skull. McKiernan fell face downward, his arms under his face,
and the bear slid over the edge and rolled down the almost vertical
wall into the canyon, having dislodged himself by the effort to seize
the man.

McKiernan did not lose consciousness, but he was unable to move. He
knew his left eye was gone, and he feared that he was bleeding to
death. He heard the bear rolling down the slope, heard the crash of
bushes as he struck the bottom, and knew because of his bawling that
the Grizzly was mortally hurt. Then he wondered why his partner did
not come to him, and sense of pain and fear of death were submerged
under a wave of indignation at the man's cowardice and flight.
Presently he heard faintly a voice calling him across the canyon, but
could not distinguish the words, and after a time he realized that his
partner had fled back to the cabin, and was shouting to him. He could
not answer, nor could he raise his head, but he managed to free one arm
and wave it feebly. The partner finally saw the movement and plucked
up enough courage to come back, and with his help McKiernan somehow got
to the cabin.

A young doctor from San Jose attempted to patch up the broken skull
after removing a large piece and leaving the envelope of the brain
exposed. He had read something about trephining and inserting silver
plates, and he hammered o